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 agency’s 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 Issa’s efforts. Issa ignored Cummings and shut off the Democrat’s microphone.
“Mr. Chairman, you cannot run a committee like this,” Cummings shouted, calling Issa’s inquiry a “one-sided investigation” and saying, “We’re 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 Lerner’s emails that Issa requested in his three separate subpoenas for documents.
All just a play to try to convince people that there’s a difference between Republicans and Democrats....When the cameras are off, and they go to the backrooms, they’re all buddy-buddy.
LOL.
But actually, Boner will defend “his good friend” and bash the Tea Party.
Gowdy voted for Boehner for speaker.
Hillary gets a free pass on Benghazi, and now it appears that Lerner will not be held to account for the IRS scandal.
Things are moving along nicely for the Democrats, with the help of the feckless GOP.
If Issa is taking this step by step then the next hearing will probably be, in what, 2018? This woman first took the 5th back in May and look at how much he’s accomplished....nada. He’s all talk and bluster.
The Uniparty never goes after their own, they just put on a show for you.
Not one democrat has been held responsible for anything since the gop took over the house. Forty Tea Party republicans ain’t gonna’ change anything. Especially if half of them go along with Boner.
Before Adjourning Issa should have darned well asked her if she was threatened by anyone who wants her to remain quiet during this testimony.
Issa should file for contempt or just resign if he’s not going to enforce the rules....like Holder.
Congress has the absolute right to now arrest her. She waived the 5th. WHY ARE THEY DOING NOTHING??? Ill tell you why. Boehner, Issa, and all the corrupt insiders HATE the Tea Party. They want the Tea Party CRUSHED!!
He’s partly a showman but in these days you kind of have to be, with all the cameras everywhere.
Several hefty cops surrounded Lerner as she left. That was for show too.
Also Gowdy was not front and center. That was intentional as well.
Did you notice how frightened Lerner seemed before the hearing got going? Then when she realized she wasn’t going to be prosecuted immediately, her eyes totally changed. Issa has that power, and she knew it.
He wasn’t giving anything away after the hearing either. Tried to take the focus off of Lerner, but we don’t really know, do we? I think his timing is fine.
"Ms. Lerner is not our primary concern today, nor is the contempt.."
That pretty much sums it up. This is a dog and pony show to appease Republican voters and NOTHING MORE.
Nope!
Doesn’t matter what Gowdy says. Enough talk. Do something.
If she does talk, it will just be lies.
A flat tax like this would be much fairer. Unfortunately the corporatists and representatives and lobbyists for the low-income types paying zero percent tax won't allow it.
He's not a wooden Indian but he is a minority, a victim, didn't get a kiss, but poor ol' Elijah got a dis. (Elijah close enough.)
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