Posted on 04/04/2014 6:09:01 PM PDT by smoothsailing
April 4, 2014
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asked the panel's top Democrat to disclose communications between his office and the lawyer for former IRS official Lois Lerner, who faces contempt charges before the committee.
In a letter to ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Issa said it was vital for him to share what he learned from interviewing her attorney, William W. Taylor III.
The panel is investigating Lerner — who headed the Exempt Organizations division of the agency when it controversially targeted conservative groups — and will vote on contempt charges on the grounds that she has refused to cooperate with the probe.
"As you know, Mr. Taylor's position with regard to Ms. Lerner's willingness to cooperate with the committee has changed several times," Issa wrote. "So that all members of the committee can have a better understanding of Mr. Taylor's current position, please disclose any communications that you or your staff have had with Mr. Taylor."
Lerner has refused to answer questions about IRS targeting, using her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Reports have suggested that Lerner may seek immunity from the panel before agreeing to speak.
Republicans, though, say that Lerner waived her right to remain silent when she made a statement denying any wrongdoing, and charge that she is trying to delay the investigation.
Issa questioned if last-minute talks on immunity were more than just another stalling tactic and asked Cummings to share his discussions with Taylor.
"Your insistence on the prospect of immunity is surprising," Issa wrote. "In discussions with my staff, Mr. Taylor stated that his client does not fear prosecution and would not make any incriminating statements if she testified, with or without immunity.
"Ms. Lerner does not require immunity to testify truthfully about facts that would not incriminate her," he added.
Lerner served as the D.C.-based IRS official who some lawmakers believe played a key role in the practice of targeting certain conservative and Tea Party groups who were seeking tax-exempt status.
Issa and Cummings have had a strained relationship. At the conclusion of a committee hearing last month, the chairman turned off the Democrat's microphone after a testy exchange. Issa later apologized, which Cummings accepted.
My bad, I should have stuck a warning label on it. B^)
Keep in mind that Cummings was personally appointed by Obama to co-head this committee.
This is a dog. This is a pony.
Those two remind me of a Twilight Zone episode.
Now how the Hell would Elijah Cummings know what he, or anybody else said?
I think its deeper than that. He's part of the crime. He participated in the intimidation of one of the patriot groups.
I think that's why he's barking so loud.
Summarized: The Fifth Amendment was never meant to protect the government from its citizens.
OMG!!! This pic is hysterical I need a new screen coffee all over it!!!
OBAMA HAS WEAPONIZED THE IRS AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENTS ordering multiple covert campaigns of intimidation, threats, and persecution of tea party/conservative organizations, and those daring to criticize Obama's agenda.
<><> Seven lock-stepping Democrats scared-***tless of losing their seats ask the IRS to “Investigate” political opponents,
<><> Rep Elijah Cummings led the Democrat pack in smearing True the Vote patriot Catherine Englebrecht....
<><> der leader Obama said Tea Parties were a "threat to democracy."
<><> The IRS (a tax-funded L/E agency) takes its marching orders from Democrat;
<><> the FBI, ATF, the IRS, and OSHA were sicced on Catherine Englebrecht, as she valiantly tried to improve the US voting system.
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DEMS STOOP TO CONQUEUR--order IRS to act to save their seats
by Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 2/13/14
Senate Democrats facing tough elections this year want the IRS to play a more aggressive role in regulating outside groups expected to spend millions of dollars on their races. In the wake of the IRS targeting scandal, the Democrats are publicly prodding the agency instead of lobbying them directly.
Dems are also careful to say the IRS should treat conservative and liberal groups equally, but they’re concerned about an impending tidal wave of attack ads funded by GOP-allied organizations. Much of the funding for those groups is secret, in contrast to the donations lawmakers collect, which must be reported publicly.
One of the most powerful groups is Americans for Prosperity, funded by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. It has already spent close to $30 million on ads attacking Democrats this election cycle.
“If they’re claiming the tax relief, the tax benefit to be a nonprofit for social relief or social justice, then that’s what they should be doing,” said Sen. Mark Begich (D), who faces a competitive race in Alaska. “If it’s to give them cover so they can do political activity, that’s abusing the tax code. And either side."
Asked if the IRS should play a more active role policing political advocacy by groups that claim to be focused on social welfare, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) responded, “Absolutely. Both on the left and the right,” she said. “As taxpayers, we should not be providing a write-off to groups to do political activity, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Shaheen called the glut of political spending by self-described social welfare groups that qualify under section 501(c) (4) of the tax code “outrageous.” Shaheen is in a good position now but could find herself embroiled in a tight campaign if former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass) challenges her.
Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.), the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent, said the IRS has jurisdiction over 501(c)(4) groups, as well as charities, which fall under section 5/01(c)(3) of the tax code and sometimes engage in quasi-political activity.
“That whole 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) [issue], those are IRS numbers. It is inherently an internal revenue matter,” he said. “There are two things you don’t want in political money, in the fundraising world and expenditure world. You don’t want secret money, and you don’t want unlimited money, and that’s what we have now.” --SNIP--
Dead End Darryl. He hasn’t followed through on one threat. BOTH Issa and Obama have the same “red line” problem.
Been waiting for this jerk to do something for the last 5 years.
They obviously have something on him.
That's the insidious part, the apparatchiks have the goods on all the politicians, and the domestic left is balls to the wall when it comes to soviet style skullduggery.
You understand a battle, but not war.
You desire to win a skirmish or a battle. Whereas Issa et al are intent on winning the war.
The full force is not engaged while the enemy is strong. The enemy is being worn down. The current thread is very strong evidence of that concept. What you mistake for spinelessness is actually battlefield preparation
The conclusion must not be before September...... it can be forgotten and swept under the media rug before election day. The crescendo of events resulting from hearings in late September must be maximized on or about Halloween.
OOPS! Sorry about the screen but glad you liked the pic! B^)
Cummings is one of holders people and he is trying his best to block this investigation.
It’s time to put a stop to all the “internal investigations” and get to the hanging tree.
We all know there are plenty to hang so why not get rid of a few and see what the rest will decide to spill.
Driving Miss Lerner, featuring Elijah Cummings or better yet Eric Holder.
It's all true ... Obama and his liberal goons are thugs.
But what is it about Issa? He starts these investigations and they run off the rails just as he’s rounding first base, ya know? Is it Kabuki theater designed both to burnish his image as a crusader and equally designed to fail early on? Or is he an amateur lawyer who doesn’t have (on his own) the chops to press the case(s) and isn’t smart enough to get outside counsel? Perhaps he’s being sabotaged by his own side...and that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Or is the admin so incredibly deft that they simply dodge, deny, defer and delay?
[multiple choice]
Perhaps Issa (and Grassley in the Senate) have conservative instincts but still have to play the pork game. They bring certain issues to public (and Congress’) attention and offer opportunity for their fellow Congressmen to respond. When they meet with no support, they go back to pork and other subjects until another opportunity comes along instead of rendering themselves completely irrelevant.
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