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.
That’ll just make him cry and make those unintelligible gurgling noises again, like he did when Issa turned off his mic. What a loser.
Is that woman to his right wearing a rubber mask,or is that really her face?I honestly can’t tell.
“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.”
That’s racist. I don’t know how or why, but it’s got to be racist.
The list, Ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
I’ve heard that Issa has sold the Trophy Room, as it is expected to remain empty for the next 3 years.
That’s really her face. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Is that woman to his right wearing a rubber mask,or is that really her face?I honestly can’t tell.
**********************************************************************
I believe both she and Cummings were in the process of “breaking wind”.
I despise that evil Cummings.
I marvel at the idiocy of Cummings.
The I remember Sheila Jackass-Lee is my Rep.
He won’t tell a thing that would help the committee or the American people. He is part and parcel of the stonewalling!
This may be a break, if it comes out that the dems
have been obstructing the investigation.(you know
they have...) Issa is playing a tough game, it doesn’t
seem likt he’s getting anyware but he may be building
something powerful. One can only hope.
That I believe, is what one would call, a 2 @ 10, and a 3.5 @ 2.
Here’s how Issa will unwittingly sabotage himself. He’s good on the front end but bad on the follow through. There’s no saliency to Issa wondering about this: It leads nowhere. He needs to stick to the center cut of the steak and not worry about the edges.
In addition to being very serious in terms of the implications, this is an issue that touches everyone provided Republicans can make the case. Because for example, while everyone wants to “help the poor”, nobody likes paying taxes and the very idea that the IRS is really the Internal Retribution Service can really get some legs in this era of relentlessly rising taxes.
Yeah, Benghazi is also a big deal but it’s only four people and half a world away. And there ain’t no evidence. With this IRS thing, there is massive evidence and I really hope Issa doesn’t foul it up.
Did I say “foul”?
Elijah Cummings is Miss Lois’s chauffeur.
Wow the smell coming from anyone associated with that lying lerner is becoming so bad that people in attendance will be required to wear gas masks.
Lying and corruption are the center pieces of the dumb-o-crat party, without those two ingredients they would have NOTHING it’s the bedrock of their existence.
Can I translate Issa’s comments:
Elijah, look, if you want to disclose this information, that would be great. If you don’t want to disclose it, well...there’s really nothing I can do about it.
Issa is a joke! We all know this will be going nowhere!
I cry fowl as in odorous. Too bad we can’t waterboard her.
She looks like she has the ‘should I spit or should I swallow’ look goin’ on.....
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