Posted on 03/05/2014 7:14:01 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
California Rep. Darrell Issa adjourned a divisive House Oversight hearing Wednesday after IRS official Lois Lerner pleaded the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer his questions.
“Seeking the truth is the obligation of this committee,” Issa said before announcing that he had no expectation that Lerner would answer his questions and adjourning the hearing.
Lerner invoked the Fifth Amendment on each question Issa asked about the agency’s targeting of conservative groups. The hearing lasted approximately fifteen minutes before Issa released Lerner.
Issa began the hearing by explaining that Lerner previously waived her Fifth Amendment rights in a May 2013 hearing and that “the committee may proceed to consider whether she be held in contempt.”
VIDEO at source.
ssa did not choose to hold Lerner in contempt of Congress on the floor of the hearing. It is unclear at this time if he will choose to pursue contempt charges.
Immediately after Issa adjourned, Democratic Oversight Committee Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings angrily blasted Issa’s efforts. Issa ignored Cummings and shut off the Democrat’s microphone.
“Mr. Chairman, you cannot run a committee like this,” Cummings shouted, calling Issa’s inquiry a “one-sided investigation” and saying, “We’re better than this as a country.”
“I am a member of the Congress of the United States of America, and I am tired of this,” Cummings shouted.
“Close it down,” Issa said, releasing Lerner and angrily cutting Cummings’ microphone.
Issa noted in his remarks that Oversight has “conducted 33 bipartisan, transcribed interviews with employees from the IRS” but that the IRS “continues to withhold” some of Lerner’s emails that Issa requested in his three separate subpoenas for documents.
He’s worthless because, the powers that be have the goods on him. As well as anybody else that may be able to anything..
Every one of them are Co-Opted.
Then assert a special PROSECUTOR!!!!
They are going through the motions.
They knew she wouldn’t testify.
But it makes Obama look bad that she won’t.
They can’t hold her in contempt if they don’t have a hearing.
They can’t jump to prosecution if they haven’t at least tried to get the answers in a hearing.
I love it. Obama is out there saying nothing criminal happened and we have Lerner taking the Fifth. I love it.
these hearings are always scripted.
was he really upset or was it just an opportunity to be seen as upset.
Given the DC insiders of both parties who hate the fact the “little people” are speaking up, is anything ever going to come of this?
Shocked! Just shocked!
So, Daryl, what are you going to do? Whine and complain?
What a... well never mind.
The fact that he wasn't prepared to hold her in contempt right there on the spot tells the entire story.
The guy is a Republican windbag and it's a mistake to put any more stock in him at all.
He's a do-nothing son of a bitch, which is why he was put in the position he's in.
She should have been held in contempt (if possible) and taken away in irons.
pathetic
Lois Lerner waved her 5th Amendment rights. It has been determined that she did so. Yet she still claims it allows her to refuse to answer any questions.
Why hasn’t she been found in contempt? How about a fine? Arrest?
So, let me make certain I understand...
If you, as a former government employee, are ever summoned to appear before Congress during an investigation you can just go in, tell them all to suck it and walk out.
Have all the people who have appeared before Congress in past been aware of this rule? I guess they are now.
“Why isn’t this woman in prison? In fact, why are any of them, from Obama on down, still walking around free?
Congress is just a rubber stamp for the communist regime”
Tell us exactly how Congress is going to put them in jail now?
I don’t know if that’s true or not, but if you’re right - then they are only shadows of real men and a disgrace to the office they hold.
Time for what? We already lost and America is in the shi! can. Issa is a pus and Lerner should be in jail. When we no longer have a responsible Government and both Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are in the crap hole we are finished. Forget 2014, America is finished without a civil war and tar and feathers would be to light.
Another show trial. Contempt would have been the move here. Cutting funding to the IRS would have been another move, and one I’d think would be pretty popular with the American people.
The targeting, which on a bipartisan basis, is something nobody wants in general, since one side will use it on the other, and vice versa.
You use this as the wedge for a flat tax of 10 percent, and you move on. Everyone pays it - 10 percent - no deductions.
Game over.
What’s the rush? That will be for closer to election.
“Dave Chappelle vs Louis Lerner ‘Pleading The Fifth!’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP0TdQ1uCKI&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“I plead the fif!”
Can’t wait to hear what Gowdy has to say.
Jim Jordan just practically claimed there *will* be a special prosecutor.
Looks like they’re gonna drag this out.
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