The Briefing Room

General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on March 05, 2014, 05:37:14 pm

Title: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: mystery-ak on March 05, 2014, 05:37:14 pm
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/199962-boehner-lerner-should-testify-or-be-held-in-contempt (http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/199962-boehner-lerner-should-testify-or-be-held-in-contempt)

March 05, 2014, 10:54 am
Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt

By Russell Berman

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Wednesday that if former IRS official Lois Lerner does not eventually testify about the agency’s targeting of political groups, Congress should hold her in contempt.

“At some point I believe she has to testify, or I believe she should be held in contempt,” the Speaker told reporters near the Capitol, moments after Lerner again invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Boehner said he would await a report on the brief hearing from the panel’s chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). Issa adjourned the hearing on Wednesday after Lerner refused to testify.

In a televised interview Sunday, Issa said he had been told by Lerner’s attorney, William Taylor, that she was willing to waive her Fifth Amendment rights and testify, but Taylor later disputed Issa’s assertion.

Lerner, the former head of the IRS’s tax-exempt division, angered lawmakers on the committee last year when she invoked the Fifth Amendment after defending herself in an opening statement. The committee later voted that by addressing IRS activity in her opening statement, she had waived her right to refuse to answer questions.

But in a letter to the committee last week, Taylor said Lerner would only testify if granted immunity or if ordered to do so by a federal judge.
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: Chieftain on March 05, 2014, 05:40:06 pm
At what point, John??

Issa should be writing the motion to hold her in contempt right now, and as soon as it comes out of committee Boenher needs to schedule a vote on it immediately.

Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: Rapunzel on March 05, 2014, 05:55:54 pm
Eventually!!!!!!  Sheesh..... do it now, John...not some mythical future that never comes.
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: Olivia on March 05, 2014, 05:57:02 pm
At what point, John??

Issa should be writing the motion to hold her in contempt right now, and as soon as it comes out of committee Boenher needs to schedule a vote on it immediately.

What will it mean for her if she's held in contempt?  Just paper work and no real punishment?
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: PzLdr on March 05, 2014, 06:17:22 pm
When, Boo Hoo? When? When the Unicorns graze on the South Lawn? When?  :chairbang:
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2014, 06:46:51 pm
Why waste time? Why not just hold the entire Obama administration in contempt? They don't care they think it is funny.
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: MBB1984 on March 05, 2014, 06:49:03 pm
I believe even liberal Alan Dershowitz said Congress could hold her in contempt months ago.  It is past time to act.
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: Relic on March 05, 2014, 06:51:15 pm
At what point, John??

Issa should be writing the motion to hold her in contempt right now, and as soon as it comes out of committee Boenher needs to schedule a vote on it immediately.

If you get some cameras, and promise to put it on the evening news, Issa will write that motion.

Kabuki theater is all it is.
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: katzenjammer on March 05, 2014, 07:13:01 pm
If you get some cameras, and promise to put it on the evening news, Issa will write that motion.

Kabuki theater is all it is.

This.
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: alicewonders on March 05, 2014, 07:21:53 pm
FOLKS, folks, folks,.......just hold your powder!  Wait until after the elections this fall and THEN we're really going to fight these guys and put it to them but good!    /extreme sarcasm
Title: Re: Boehner: Hold Lerner in contempt
Post by: Relic on March 05, 2014, 08:09:06 pm
FOLKS, folks, folks,.......just hold your powder!  Wait until after the elections this fall and THEN we're really going to fight these guys and put it to them but good!    /extreme sarcasm

Yeah, we see it as sarcasm. Many here see it as the only viable option.