For John, BLUF: Couldn't they say "mistakes were made"? Nothing to see here; just move along.
TAXPROF: The IRS Scandal, Day 325. Jailing Lois Lerner under the House’s “inherent contempt” power: “Lerner could be held until January 2015 when a new Congress is seated, which could issue another subpoena and throw her in the clink again if she still balks at testifying. According to a 2012 Congressional Research Service report, inherent contempt has the unique advantage that it doesn’t require ‘the cooperation or assistance of either the executive or judicial branches. The House or Senate can, on its own, conduct summary proceedings and cite the offender for contempt.’”On the other hand, there is the whole Bill of Attainder thing (Article I, Section 9).
And why was Chairman Darrell Issa so discourteous to Ranking Member Elijah Cummings the last time Ms Lois Lerner was in town?
Then there is this, from The Washington Examiner:
Years will pass before congressional investigators can review all of the documents pertaining to the inappropriate targeting of Tea Party groups, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen told a House panel Wednesday.Years? These are the folks doing the important work on the PP&ACA! Years?
Hat tip to the InstaPundit.
Regards — Cliff
A key question that begs an answer even though one assumes that it will never materialize. "If Lois Lerner is guilty of improper conduct, et al, and can be held in contempt of Congress for her refusal to answer questions by invoking privilege under the 5th, why isn't she already held in contempt and shipped off to the slammer?
ReplyDeleteSeems to be enough sleaze on both sides of the House isle to go around.