Posted on 03/06/2014 4:59:52 PM PST by jazusamo
House Republicans on Thursday slammed the former IRS official at the center of the agency’s targeting controversy for answering questions from the Justice Department after invoking the Fifth Amendment in a congressional hearing.
Republicans on the Oversight Committee said that Lois Lerner’s decision to sit down with federal investigators made them wonder how seriously the Justice Department was taking the investigation into the IRS’s treatment of Tea Party groups. “Think about it: Actually, the people who can put her in jail — she’ll talk to them,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told The Hill. “But she won’t talk to a bunch of Congress guys? She won’t give us the answers? You’ve got to be kidding me. Because she knows the [Justice] investigation’s a joke.”
The statements from Republicans came a day after Lerner again took the Fifth, after first invoking those rights against self-incrimination in May 2013.
But Lerner’s return to Capitol Hill has largely been overshadowed since then, after Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) adjourned Wednesday’s hearing and cut the microphone of the panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.).
Democrats intensified their criticism of Issa on Thursday, as Republicans tried to bring the focus back to Lerner.
“She obviously isn’t afraid to talk about it,” said Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.). “I think she should.”
Lerner, who retired in September, was the IRS official who first apologized for the agency’s treatment of Tea Party groups. After almost 10 months of investigation, Republicans say she could be the key to understanding why and how the IRS gave improper scrutiny to conservative groups.
But Bill Taylor, Lerner’s lawyer, has said he doesn’t believe his client will ever answer House Oversight’s questions.
Taylor told reporters on Wednesday that he believed Republicans were only seeking to embarrass Lerner, not to uncover facts for their longstanding investigation into the IRS.
He added that Lerner’s interview with the Justice came “without conditions,” and noted that she would be risking jail time by lying to the federal investigators. Reports have suggested that the Justice Department does not intend to file criminal charges related to the IRS's treatment of groups seeking tax-exempt 501(c)(4) status.
“I have every confidence that they’re fair minded and they don’t have a political objective, and hadn’t made up their minds about what the facts were,” Taylor said.
The “Justice” system is a complete and utter joke, as are these hearings.
Plausible dependability means people can never be put away.
Ah, Congressman Jordan, Congress has a jail, they could could arrest her and put her in in the congressional jailhouse. Maybe she knows that since you guys don't know about your won jail and that eric holder will only persecute, opps I mean prosecute whites, she has nothing to fear from either of you, but eric is nicer to her.
If they have a brain in their heads that's exactly what they should be doing but I doubt they will.
It is my understanding that, as an equal branch of government to the Executive, Congress can arrest and throw people in its very own jail. Is this not correct?
Once again the feckless Republicans are turning what should be a major campaign issue and win into a public relations disaster. Issa trots out on Fox New Sunday announcing Lois Lerner is going to testify to the committee. She then puts him in his place by pleading the Fifth, making Isaa look like a fool.
Then Issa goes on a power trip at the end of the committee hearing by not allowing Elijah Cummings to grandstand for a couple of minutes. All Issa had to do was give Elijah Cummings 5 minutes to run off at the mouth. Cummings would have spouted off and his diatribe would have been a non-event. Instead Issa makes a big show of shutting Cummings down, allowing the press to paint Issa as the bully and Cummings as the victim.
Plus, now we hear noises from the Republicans about whether they should or shouldn’t hold Lois Lerner in contempt. Once again the Republicans took action without having a follow-up strategy. They now look foolish having been shut down by Lerner. Issa and Boehner should have put together a game plan before the hearing. If Lerner took the 5th, Boehner should have immediately called the House into session within minutes of the committee hearing ending and had the vote holding Lerner in contempt.
They must be doing it on purpose. No group of politicians can be this stupid.
More likely because she knows Congress is a joke.
That is my understanding but I’m no authority, if true that’s exactly what should happen.
Perfect images of arrogance.
Actually Holder, Lerner and Obama think you Mr. Jordan and Issa are a joke, they are laughing at all of you because they have Boehner under their Chicago Way control and they think you can't do a damn thing about it, in other words as was said "the republicans are a joke".
Call holder before the committee and make him testify to her statements. He is not her attorney, that is government time. We want a transcript delivered to this committe by noon or you will be in contempt and serving jail until it is produced. AND BTW FU CUMMINGS!
Video of the Kelly file with Cleta Mitchell
HUH? Lois Lerner pleads the 5th to Congress, but she has been talking to DOJ investigators
Excellent video of Cleta Mitchell on Megyn Kelly’s show, Mitchell doesn’t mince any words. She calls it like it is and that’s that Lerner has probably lied to Congress and doesn’t think the Injustice Dept will do squat about it...I think she’s right.
bkmk
“But she won’t talk to a bunch of Congress guys? She won’t give us the answers? You’ve got to be kidding me. Because she knows the [Justice] investigation’s a joke.”
. . . .
Maybe it’s Congress that’s become the joke.
Over the years, they’ve abdicated their power to the Executive branch and Congress is no longer co-equal. They truly are “just a bunch of Congress guys” anymore. Why should she give them answers?
This is what happens when the Top law enforcement agencies,or the top police in the country are corrupt,the question is,What do you do and where do you go when you need help and the police,courts all the enforcement agencies are corrupt?
What do you do and where do you go when you need help and the police,courts all the enforcement agencies are corrupt?
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Well, since you feel that way, you apparently are paranoid.
When you formally lodge your complaint, it is off the the Salt Mines or Gulag for some mind altering hard work or surely a reeducation session to rid your mind of its poisons.
Think USSR 50-60’s.....
When the Russians would arrest an American for spying, WE would arrest 5 Americans for spying....
Dummies, doesn’t everyone know they’re her defense attorneys?
> Reports have suggested that the [Holder] Justice Department does not intend to file criminal charges related to the IRS’s treatment of groups seeking tax-exempt 501(c)(4) status.
Gosh, y’think?
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