House Panel Votes To Hold Former IRS Official In Contempt For Refusing To Testify At Hearings

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A House Committee voted Thursday to hold a former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions at a pair of hearings.

The official, Lois Lerner, previously headed the IRS division that processes applications for tax-exempt status. Last May, after providing an opening statement, Lerner refused to answer questions at a House Oversight Committee hearing about IRS agents improperly singling out tea party applications for extra scrutiny. She again refused to answer questions at hearing in March.

Lerner cited her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The Oversight Committee voted 21-12 Thursday to hold her in contempt. All Republicans voted in favor and all Democrats voted against.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/254677251.html

[blm]

1. Lerner (R-Romney donor) is playing the lead actress in Issa's scripted dogandponyshow.

She planted the question in the audience that started this whole dirt ball rolling while Issa DIRECTED the Inspector General to ONLY record the scrutiny given to RW groups and to ignore all others.

Issa MANUFACTURED the appearance of scandal to frame the WH. Corporate media lemmings ran with his script repeating it word for word for over a year.

There is only ONE person Lerner is protecting with her 5th Amendment pleas - Issa.

This is why Issa quickly shut down the hearing on Cummings after her second plea performance and why he will not let the committee give her immunity for her testimony.

[savalez]

2. Exactly.

Good thing nobody gives a flying _____.

[rtracey]

3. I totally agree

Your assessment seems to be spot on.

[blm]

5. I don't believe in 'coincidences' when dealing with Bush family or the GOP.

.

[CJCRANE]

13. Yep, that sums it up! nt

[Roland99]

14. Different Lois Lerner

Lois I Lerner was a Romney donor (from opensecrets.org)

Lois G Lerner search comes up with no results.

Although, she was appointed to higher position in the IRS by a Bush appointee: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Lois-G.-Lerner-Selected-as-Director-of-IRS-Exempt-Organizations-Division

[Hissyspit]

4. Oh, now all of a sudden they're big on "accountability."

[geretogo]

6. Issa is nothing but a street thug along with his fellow gangsters harassing a Innocent pedestrian .

[question everything]

7. In practical terms, what does it mean?

Do they have the authority to throw her in jail?

If not, I hope she tells them to f**ck themselves.

[blm]

8. she won't...she's part of Issa's show

.

[christx30]

9. From Wikipedia:

"Senate Rules authorize the Senate to direct the Senate Legal Counsel to file a civil action against any private individual found in contempt. Upon motion by the Senate, the federal district court issues another order for a person to comply with Senate process. If the subject then refuses to comply with the Court's order, the person may be cited for contempt of court and may incur sanctions imposed by the Court. The process has been used at least six times; but the civil procedure can only be used against Executive branch officials "in certain limited circumstances."[citation needed]"

[Keefer]

10. I don't think

senate rules apply in the house.

[leftyohiolib]

11. why didnt this apply to kkkarl rove

[christx30]

12. He's too politically connected.

And he wouldn't be subject to the sour grapes the GOO is engaging in.

[leftyohiolib]

15. oh yeah right our 2 tier justice system

[Morganfleeman]

16. The House could theoretically arrest her

From what I've read on this point, Boehner could order the Sergeant At Arms to arrest her and she would be held until the next congress is seated in January. She of course would file a habeas petition in the interim to fight being held which would end up in federal district court. There is some precedent for this and Congress does have an enforceable inherent contempt power.

Many were suggesting this power be used against Harriet Miers and others during the Bush administration but it was never used.

[question everything]

17. Shudder.... thanks

I hope that something like this will never happen, when it is clear that the agenda is politics..