Posted on 04/06/2014 1:57:59 PM PDT by smoothsailing
March 31, 2014
Lerner, who headed the IRS division that reviews tax-exemption applications, has repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right instead of testifying about the agency, and she, her former lawyers, and her mentor, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have been saying that the House panel could take no further action on the matter.
However, this month House lawyers decided that Lerner could, in fact, be charged with contempt. This decision was not merely made by the House Oversight Committee, but by the House.
Regardless of political affiliation, however, Lerner's reluctance to testify is frustrating. Watching her appearances in Congress has been like enthusiastically ordering a container of shrimp fried rice from the finest Chinese restaurant in the city, and then winding up with a delivery without even a single shrimp in it!
A Washington Times editorial on March 13 indicates that Lerner could be facing a day of reckoning:
"The noose tightens around the neck of Lois Lerner, once an enforcer at the Internal Revenue Service with duties to protect the interests of Democrats. She’s the first casualty of the IRS scandal and hasn’t answered many of the questions posed by Congress, beyond only a vow of innocence and her name, rank and serial number. The silence may not last much longer."
"In a sternly-worded letter (March 14) to Rep. Elijah Cummings -- and obtained by The Daily Caller -- Rep. Darrell Issa said that his House Oversight Committee is well within its rights to hold ex-IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt despite Cummings’ arguments to the contrary," Patrick Howley led his Daily Caller piece, "Issa to Cummings: You’re wrong. We can hold Lois Lerner in contempt."
"Issa says his latest report "presents evidence that Ms. Lerner misled Congress about IRS targeting and her own conduct."
The crucial question remains. Was Ms. Lerner acting alone or at the direction of the White House, Issa asks. Her testimony "remains critical to the committee's investigation."
Lerner's refusal to answer questions leaves Congress with the responsibility to pursue and punish what is clearly contempt of Congress, Issa concludes.
In "House lawyers say panel can pursue contempt charges against Lois Lerner" (Washington Post, March 26), Josh Hicks explains that, "... the panel effectively overruled Lerner’s Fifth Amendment assertion when it determined — in a party-line vote — that she had waived her right to not testify by declaring innocence at a hearing last year. It also noted that the committee advised Lerner that she could face contempt charges if she refused to answer questions."
Now even Democrats would like Lerner to pipe about the IRS scandal. Why the silence? Besides her, was anybody else involved, or was it just a group of renegade juvenile IRS agents in Cincinnati?
UPDATE:Lerner headed to contempt hearing
Any idea who the judge that is hearing the case?
“For all we know, Lois Lerner could be roused out of bed one morning this week ...”
...then, Lois will roll over and go back to sleep.
They don’t have the will, the guts or the brains to do it.
Either that or the House can make her dangle in the wind until Obama leaves and then they can crucify her.
Starring Morgan Freeman and Susan Sarandon.....and Arec Barwin as The Beaver.
I guess death by firing squad is out of the question. I was hoping she’d at least be on double secret probation and have to wear a red clown nose along with the shoes for a year.
Amy Berman Jackson, DC Circuit Court
HAHA! Great graphic!
Thanks! 8^)
The Demwits were morons to try to stonewall all this stuff and not take it head-on. Now it’s 2014 and the drumbeat has continued right on into the primary season. Thanks smoothsailing.
If this country had justice anymore, this bitch would be rotting in a jail cell.
So Sad, Too Bad.
She has the contempt citation framed and hangs it in a place of honor on her office wall.
Some funny graphics on this thread!
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Thanks :)
Forget about jailing Lerner, which will just be used by leftists (and parroted by the press) as another battle in the war on women.
Play the IRS's own game: cite Lerner and fine the IRS, by way of the next budget allocation, $10 million unrefundable PER DAY until she talks.
This is how the House should deal with Benghazi and the state department, the EPA and their illegal busts, the Justice Department and immigration issues, on and on.
Give us what we are due or we'll take what you have, down to the last penny if necessary.
Oh, yeah. Issa will get right on that.
Same with Gowdy amnesty man.
Ha. You are even more disgusted than I.
Raul Labrador is the one guy (so far) I trust in the House. I call his office often and will do so again tomorrow. He has spoken publicly, if quietly, about challenging Boehner and I wish to heaven he would do so.
Smart and tough and, as a native of Puerto Rico, he doesn’t brook any race-card or anti-immigrant bullshit, that kind of nonsense.
Anyway. More than you asked me for. I still think the battle is winnable. But not by Issa, Boehner, Cantor, all those lying clowns. Maybe it would take a miracle. But then I do pray.....
Hmmm... An Obunga appointee.
On March 2, 2012, Jackson ruled that the National Labor Relations Board had limited authority to require private businesses to display posters informing workers about labor rights.
On March 23, 2012, Jackson overturned a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that revoked a permit for the Spruce 1 mine project in Logan County, West Virginia. In her ruling, Jackson stated that the EPA did not have power under the Clean Water Act to rescind the permit.
She will preside at the August 2013 sentencing of former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr., and his wife, Sandy Jackson.
In December of 2013, Berman Jackson ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Washington, D.C. must cover birth control and abortifacients for its employees under the Affordable Care Act despite a ban on abortion or contraception in Roman Catholic doctrine.
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