Republicans hit IRS’ Lois Lerner with contempt

[alp227]

Source: Politico

The House voted to hold Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress, just three days before the anniversary of the day the former IRS official ignited the tea party targeting furor.

The Republican-led chamber voted largely along party lines 231 to 187 to place the woman who has become the face of the controversy in contempt for refusing to answer House Republicans’ questions. A handful of Democrats voted with Republicans.

“You don’t get to use a public hearing to tell the public and press your side of the story and then invoke the Fifth,” said Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) on the House floor. “That is not how the Fifth Amendment is meant to be used. It is a shield; Lois Lerner used it as a sword.”

Democrats dismissed the process as political foreplay designed for election season.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/lois-lerner-irs-contempt-of-congress-106464.html

[GeorgeGist]

1. Badge of Honor

Hat off to Ms. Lerner.

[Grassy Knoll]

2. ^^^ What George Said....

[Gothmog]

3. The courts will not uphold this ruling

Back in the McCarthy era, the House attempted to hold people asserting their 5th amendment rights in contempt and the courts struck down these attempts. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/07/lois-lerner-contempt-vote_n_5283001.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

The House voted 231 to 187 along party lines Wednesday to hold Lerner in contempt. It's a step Congress hasn't taken since the McCarthy era, when it tried nine times to hold people in contempt for pleading the Fifth.

None of the votes have been upheld by the courts, but Republicans said that they had a responsibility to act.

The GOP also blew this vote procedurally earlier in the process according to Ranking Member Cummings

[Major Hogwash]

5. Then Issa will hold the courts in contempt! Because Issa is da man!

He's a total douchebag.

[davidpdx]

10. But how long will it take for the issue to go through the courts and get slapped down

We are at the beginning of May so the election is six month from now. My guess is they are hoping the courts are tied up until after election day so they can continue to scream about it.

[Gothmog]

11. It should not take long

The House first sends this contempt motion to an US attorney who has to determine if there is merit to this motion. The US attorney normally would then file in Federal court to enforce this motion. No court would enforce this motion. It is likely that the US attorney would not enforce this motion

[Thor_MN]

4. The only partisan component is Issa's demands.

His insistence to only look at investigation of conservative groups is the only partisan component of this. He conducted a partisan witch hunt, plain and simple. I do not understand how these idiots are allowed to continue to lie about what groups were actually investigated.

[savalez]

6. That's right

Didn't he confine the investigation to ONLY right wing groups? Even though ALL groups were scrutinized?

[Plucketeer]

7. Dear dipshit Darrell...

Up your crooked ass! You're NOTHING but a LYING, CONNIVING SWINDLER. No one with half a brain takes your BS seriously!

[Historic NY]

8. Issa is a contemptible ass-hole

[Samantha]

9. You are being too kind

He doesn't quite rise to that low level.

Sam