General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIRS official Lois Lerner, who took the 5th at Congressional hearing, is placed on admin. leave.
What's interesting is how it came about!
In a letter to Werfel, Levin and McCain accused Lerner of not being forthcoming about the targeting scandal during an hours-long interview by the subcommittee,
writing that she "failed to disclose the internal controversy over the search terms used by the Cincinnati office to identify 501(c)(4) groups for further review, the actions taken by that office in reviewing the identified groups, the investigation and imminent findings by the Treasury Department Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and TIGTA's conclusion that the IRS had used inappropriate criteria to target Tea Party and other conservative groups.
Ms. Lerner also failed to disclose that she was fully aware of these issues as early as June 2011, and, according to TIGTA, had been personally involved in reviewing questionable actions taken by the Cincinnati office."
"Given the serious failure by Ms. Lerner to disclose to this Subcommittee key information on topics that the Subcommittee was investigating, we have lost confidence in her ability to fulfill her duties," they continued.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57585938/issa-irs-lerner-waived-her-fifth-amendment-rights/
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)But...they are union.
Which is interesting..all these scandals about agency people breaking the law, lying to congress, refusing to even talk to Congress, and no consequences.
You and me?
We would be in jail for contempt of Congress in a heartbeat.
Bay Boy
(1,689 posts)"I did nothing wrong" and "I want to take the 5th amendment" seem to be at opposition to each other.
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)She is a public servant accountable to the people. Taking the fifth should not be an option if she wishes to stay employed.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)dems_rightnow
(1,956 posts)It prevents you from self-incriminating and being prosecuted, that's it.
Consider it like my 1st amendment right to tell my boss that he's an asshole.
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)badtoworse
(5,957 posts)Refusing to answer questions is not something I would tolerate at all. Criminality is not the issue.
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)seems to believe a crime has been committed and so far nothing has been found to prosecute anyone.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I listened to the hearings the other day, and the Inspector General WAS indicating there may room to see if a crime has been committed, but right now a major key issue is there is a law that says one thing and an IRS procedure manual that says a different thing about how to determine the Pacs.
Meanwhile, the Hearing Comm. is pissed at Ms. Lerner for not answering, and her attorney is stating taking the 5th applies to things other than criminal charges and that she is within her rights.
Naturally, while it is oft said that taking the 5th does not imply guilt.....it DOES, to most of us, gotta admit.
What is it about her job that makes her concerned about talking about it, one wonders.
An obvious answer...she is covering for someone.
Just as all those cute lil twit wit Bush robots were protecting him and esp. Rove, during the Attorney General Purge in 2007.
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)to find a scapegoat--other than themselves of course.
Skip Intro
(19,768 posts)If it ain't, then we got a way bigger problem here.
amazing.
rl6214
(8,142 posts)That failure to cooperate with any investigation is grounds for immediate termination. No ifs ands or buts and her butt should be fired and thrown in jail for contempt of congress until she talks.
dkf
(37,305 posts)NV Whino
(20,886 posts)Mr. "I don't recall" Alberto Gonzales?
Mr. "I won't take an oath" Bush and his pal Dick when "testifying" about 911?
I'm sure I'm missing some, here. Help me fill in the blanks.
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)All political, all the time.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Now she's basically gone. This is looking worse every time I read something about it.
Cha
(296,735 posts)this looks like an update.. in that it also includes the new acting director who was appointed, Ken Corbin.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/tea-party-storm-largely-inside-irs-so-far
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)So is now on PAID leave while someone else is chosen as her replacement.
How awkward is THAT?
But...legally....I can see why. To resign when asked could look like an admission of having done something wrong.
Guess DC is not a right to work place, eh?
Cha
(296,735 posts)from your link..