Posted on 05/07/2014 9:37:46 PM PDT by Lmo56
The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to hold a former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into the agency's special targeting of groups with “tea party” or “patriot” in their names that were seeking tax-exempt status.
On a 231 to 187 vote, the House approved a contempt citation against Lois G. Lerner, whose admission last year that the tax-enforcement agency had targeted conservative groups infuriated lawmakers in both parties, led to an overhaul of the IRS and Lerner's eventual retirement from government service.
Six Democrats -- a band of moderates and others facing difficult reelection challenges -- joined with all voting Republicans to approve the contempt charge.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Bipartisan agreement!
If I understand Congress’ power correctly, under a Contempt of Congress order, it has the power to incarcerate the person cited until such time as they decide to release him, the person testifies, or the current Congressional session ends. The next session has the power to do it all over again.
In that regard, there is no Holder to this, really. It is beyond his purview and powers, IMO.
OVERHAUL?
They must be taking about the new IRS decision to make persecution of conservatives approved policy.
Or maybe they refer to the salary bonuses that were handed out to all the IRS employees who used the IRS to persecute the Tea Party and other patriots.
——former-—
Last I heard she is still salaried but doing nothing
This is a nothing-burger. It doesn’t even rise to the level of kabuki theater. Your establishment isn’t going to do anything. Not because they are spineless and gutless. It’s because they fully intend to preserve this power to use against their political enemies when the red wing of the one govermnet party gets it’s turn. And those enemies aren’t liberals...it’s you.
No, she actually retired while she was out on “administrative leave”
And?...
She’s not in the slammer?
“It is tale told by an idiot,
Full of sound and fury.
Signifying nothing.”
BIG Freaking Deal, so what, nothing will happen.
Count on a Democrat smear campaign against Trey Gowdy. Guaranteed.
Its intensity & shrillness will be the direct gauge of the effectiveness of his investigation.
It starts with his being a conservative white Southerner from a red Southern state. Automatic “racist” there.
Cong. James Clyburn (Doofus-SC) will charge him with racism, since Hillary is married to America’s first black president. And it will only go downhill from there.
Question: which will the House Democrats do - boycott the Gowdy committee with a showy walkout, or will Snaredrum Face Pelosi appoint some real clowns & troublemakers to turn the proceedings into a circus?
Think Elijah Cummings times five.
If there is no evidence that he was involved and to take the heat off of himself for FF then maybe.
There is no constitutional impediment to (i) the Committee approving a resolution recommending that the full House hold Ms. Lerner in contempt of Congress; (ii) the full House approving a resolution holding Ms. Lerner in contempt of Congress; (iii) if such resolutions are approved, the Speaker certifying the matter to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, pursuant to 2 U.S.C. S:194; and (iv) a grand jury indicting, and the United States Attorney prosecuting, Ms. Lerner under 2 U.S.C. S:192.I do agree that Congress could act just as you outlined. The majority in the House chose not to. The text of H.Res.574 is ...
House Resolution 574Resolved, That because Lois G. Lerner, former Director, Exempt Organizations, Internal Revenue Service, offered a voluntary statement in testimony before the Committee, was found by the Committee to have waived her Fifth Amendment Privilege, was informed of the Committee's decision of waiver, and continued to refuse to testify before the Committee, Ms. Lerner shall be found to be in contempt of Congress for failure to comply with a congressional subpoena.
Resolved, That pursuant to 2 U.S.C. Sec. 192 and 194, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall certify the report of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, detailing the refusal of Ms. Lerner to testify before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as directed by subpoena, to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, to the end that Ms. Lerner be proceeded against in the manner and form provided by law.
Resolved, That the Speaker of the House shall otherwise take all appropriate action to enforce the subpoena.
Their power to imprison is implied under the term “inherent contempt”, the power to imprison which has been confirmed by at least two Supreme Court Cases. It really rests in the ability of the House Leadership to grow some gonads and stiffen up them jelly spines.
You beat me to it - and you’re right !
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