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 agencys 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 Issas efforts. Issa ignored Cummings and shut off the Democrats microphone.
Mr. Chairman, you cannot run a committee like this, Cummings shouted, calling Issas inquiry a one-sided investigation and saying, Were 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 Lerners emails that Issa requested in his three separate subpoenas for documents.
Despicable and predictable.
Agreed. 100%
Cummings has the race immunity clause in his favor.
I refuse to waste a minute of my life listening to that old, racist fool.
GREAT GRAPHIC!
Question for any legal FReepers who may be on the board...what is the statute of limitations for the charges Lerner might face, if she was indicted.
The strategy of Lerner and the Dims is clear enough; they’re trying to run out the clock. Issa can subpoena her every day of the week, and she will keep invoking the 5th. Meanwhile, the Holder Justice Department won’t remotely consider charging her with any crimes.
Did I mention that Ms. Lerner is collecting a $110,000 yearly federal pension as she tries to run out the clock?
I do believe Lerner would be behind bars now if he did.
Q: Why didn’t he remand her to the custody of the Sergeant at arms to be held for contempt of congress?
A: Because he’s a WUSS. Like most Congressional “Republicans”.
Circus! Where the trapeze and clowns have their rehearsed lines and tricks and stunts.
Thanks!
I thought the sound system on my MAC had died while watching the video ....as his mic was cut off....
the woman refuses to answer questions...but Issa is Un American?
this Cummings clown should have his own show on MSNBC!
A grand jury is the answer.
Issa didn’t look “angry” at all? Fed up, sure, we all are. But not “angry”.
More like an exasperated Adult trying to deal with a particularly unruly child.
nothing, other than it’s on the public record. She’s “retired”, her pension should be pulled.
Well, I think to get to a grand jury, a SP is first nescessary, because Holder’s DoJ isn’t going indict her.
Arrest the wench.
I don’t understand why this “hearing” today even took place. Did Issa have information that led him to believe she’d do anything other than take the fifth? Why did they think today would be any different than the last hearing?
You think they’re going to do any of that?
Nothing but a dog and pony show.
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