Posted on 06/28/2013 12:51:08 PM PDT by george76
Republicans on a House committee rejected strenuous Democratic objections in voting Friday that Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner waived her constitutional right against self-incrimination at a prior hearing.
The resolution was the first step in an effort by Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the GOP chairman of the House Oversight Committee, to force Lerner to return to answer questions about targeting of conservative groups by the unit she headed.
It passed on a 22-17 vote, with every Republican in favor and every Democrat opposed, following an unusually vitriolic hearing.
...
Under subpoena to testify before Issa's panel on May 22, Lerner instead made a statement that declared she did nothing wrong, and then invoked her 5th Amendment right. Issa dismissed her, but warned the committee might call her back.
Friday's hearing was the first step toward forcing Lerner to appear again. If approved, Issa's resolution would set the stage for requesting her to come back and testify because she had waived her 5th Amendment right in the view of the committee.
"I believe Lois Lerner waived her 5th Amendment privileges," Issa said. "She did so when she voluntarily chose to deliver an opening statement" that included what he described as "four specific denials ....at the core of the committee's investigation into this matter."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
A good cross-examiner usually knows the answers to the questions he’s asking. Sometimes it’s fishing but that can be dangerous. They just want to put her on the record. She’ll just refuse to answer.
So she’s found in contempt. Like Holder she just waits for this session to expire. She perjures herself, who knows. Sounds like the ‘pub’s have been taking boner pills. What’s gotten into them, acting like they got a pair.
HOUSE Republicans. There it is—different species.
Give her personal immunity, but make her testify re IRS actions. Government agencies/ employees should not be able to hide from congressional oversight.
Lerner is a criminal and should be in jail.
An executive order in place for federal employees states that pleading the Fifth Amendment before Congress means dismissal.
I very much disagree with that assessment: here's why. (2 videos.)
‘hold her in contempt if she now refuses to testify.’
I am sure Eric Holder would have her promptly arrested.
“It always bothered me that O.J. Simpson was allowed to speak to the jury and proclaim his innocence without being obliged to face cross-examination.”
I don’t remember this,please jog my memory.
I don’t=it should be but it isn’t
Some Pundits are saying to give the witch immunity for testimony. Well hopefully if they do this there is guarantees on what her testimony will be. I can just see the dumb Party giving her immunity and then her having nothing to say on the stand. IMO she gladly, and without suggestion subjugated the Rights of Conservatives, Perp walk her!
This is such a great Summer! It’s the best Summer I’ve had since I was a kid! Democrats squirming like worms.
But I don't think apply to the Lerner case. I'm no lawyer, but in a formal (not street) situation, you cannot give testimony and then refuse to be cross-examined.
For example, a defendant at a trial does not have to take the stand.
But if the defendant does take the stand to proclaim his innocence, the prosecution has every right to cross-examine. The defendant has waived his 5th amendment rights in that case.
If I'm wrong, perhaps a FR lawyer will correct me.
Not contempt, but fired for violating Executive Order 10491. I e-mailed a contact at Dana Rohrabacher’s office to clue them in on the Ex O.
I assumed it was the monthly salary. With hush money...er I mean bonuses, it probably is.
“No person shall...be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself...”
The House Republicans are wrong on this issue. She has the right to invoke the 5th at any point. The only way to “waive” it is to answer a question. The 5th is also called “the right to be silent.” This means she could answer some questions but not all.
she wasn’t silent
Garrity Warnings: criminal prosecution forthcoming. You can plead the Fifth, and not face disciplinary action.
Lerner will just hold congress in contempt and maybe be considered for a higher level cabinet poition. Holder will file obstruction charges against Issa’s committee.
That’s the way it works in the upside down Alice in Wonderland USSA.
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