Posted on 05/22/2013 8:45:43 AM PDT by Sopater
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) was applauded at a congressional hearing Wednesday, after he objected to Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner pleading the Fifth Amendment and refusing to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. After invoking her right to avoid self-incrimination, Lerner, the head of the tax-exempt division of the IRS, was dismissed from the hearing, which is examining the agency’s inappropriate targeting of conservative groups.
After giving a brief opening statement -- in which she said she did nothing wrong -- then refusing to answer any questions, Lerner was dismissed by Committee Chairman Darryl Issa (R-Calif.), who said he had “no choice” but to respect her constitutional right.
Gowdy objected.
“Mr. [Elijah] Cummings [D-Md.] said we should run this like a courtroom, and I agree with him. She just testified,” Gowdy said. “She just waived her Fifth Amendment right to privilege, you don’t get to tell your side of the story then not be subjected to cross examination.
“That’s not the way it works.
“She waived her right to Fifth Amendment privilege by issuing an opening statement,” he said. “She ought to stand here and answer our questions.”
In her opening statement, Lerner said she is “very proud of the work I have done in government.”
“I have not done anything wrong,” she said. “I have not broken any laws, I have not violated any IRS laws or regulations and I have not given any false information to this or any other committee.”
Lerner headed the IRS division that handled groups applying for tax-exempt status.
According to an audit released by the Treasury Inspector General, during the 2010 and 2012 elections the IRS “targeted” conservative groups with names such as “patriot” in their titles and whose aims included reducing government spending and advocacy to “make America a better place to live.”
Issa has accused Lerner of misleading Congress on at least four occasions in response to the committee’s questions last year on whether the IRS was targeting conservative groups.
Issa is all hat and no cattle.
She said she “did nothing wrong” then pleaded the Fifth. Could there possibly be some sort of conflict here?
How big a promotion is she in line for again?
Issa is useless. He always has been. We may as well have Dick Durbin running the hearing....
Prove me wrong.
May I ask: What do you mean?
Is there any downside to pleading the 5th? I mean, why wouldn’t people always do this if they’re being investigated?
Pleading the 5th is your right, but telling her side AND THEN pleading the 5th, only one of obamas minions or any other POS lib dem would try to pull that.................and will probably get away with it.
Now we’ve gotta wonder what dirt do they have on Issa?
Issa is worse than ineffective.
By letting that corrupt b!tch give her opening statement, but refuse to answer any questions, Issa helped the ‘rats make THEIR campaign video!
You wait — her brief testimony will be ALL OVER the news for DAYS. Communicating, with the help of the press and the unwitting aid of the halfwit Issa, just the talking point that Obama wants to plant in every citizen’s mind.
Issa is an idiot.
Someone should have told Scooter Libby to plead the fifth
It means he’s all booster, no payload.
There is political downside but no legal downside. And yes you should never tell any representative of the government ANYTHING.
It’s an old Texas ranchers saying-—he walks around wearing a huge Stetson hat (i.e. all talk), but owns no cattle with which to back up his bravado (i.e. he’s a phony).
Trey Gowdy should have pic alerts. Love to watch him, succinct,takes no guff and love his yes ma’am. Don’t know why the peebles don’t want him running against gameboy LG.
I’m glad someone on that committee said something about this. If you are going to take the 5th then you should not be allowed to make an opening statement, other than to say you are taking the 5th - which should take about 10 seconds.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.Interesting... couldn't someone claim that they were deprived of property without due process of law if they were legitimately exempt from paying taxes, but wasn't legally granted that exemption due to the IRS deliberately holding up the process due to the name of their organization?
“She said she “did nothing wrong” then pleaded the Fifth. Could there possibly be some sort of conflict here?”
I agree. IF she did “noting wrong” then how could she possibly “incriminate” herself by testifying? Sounds like someone who knew they were breaking the law, but felt the law was wrong or they were above it. Ergo...”I did nothing wrong.”
Thank goodness for Gowdy! Watch and learn RINO’s...
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