The House votes to hold Lois Lerner in Contempt of the Congress
This news is just coming over the wire: the House has voted to hold Lois Lerner in Contempt of the Congress for refusing to testify about her role in the IRS targeting scandal.
Here is more:
The United States House of Representatives voted Wednesday night to hold ex-IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress for refusing to provide information about her role in the improper IRS targeting of conservative groups between 2010 and 2012.
The House voted to hold Lerner in contempt 231-187. The vote went mostly along party lines, with six Democrats voting in favor of contempt. The House also voted 250-168 in favor of a resolution calling for Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special counsel to investigate the IRS scandal.
I have to be honest with you, and this is not going to be a popular opinion here; while there is nobody who wants to see Lois Lerner held accountable for what I believe he did, I have a problem with the Congress holding her in Contempt because she exercised her Constitutionally guaranteed fifth amendment right.
I do not like the fact that she refused to testify but that is her right and you are either for the Constitution or you are not. One cannot simply agree with the Constitution when it is convenient for them while ignoring it when it is not.
While I want Lois Lerner to receive the punishment I believe she deserves it cannot come at the expense of the Constitution because if it can happen to her and can happen to us and if we do not defend the Constitution in this case who is going to defend it when and if it happens to us in the future?
While I hate to admit it, the House would probably have been better served granting her immunity because this would have freed her up to spill the beans on those above her who I think ordered the targeting the first place. That is, if the House truly intends to get to the bottom of this scandal…..
America's Watchtower 
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Isn’t the House (Issa) claiming that because of what she said before she took the 5th, she technically gave up her 5th amendment right?
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That is what they are claiming but I personally do not understand how a politician can decide when I person gives up their rights.
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She gave up her 5th amendment right when she made a opening statement.
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I think it is a bad precedent to let politicians decide when I person give up his or her rights.
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Not only did she give up her 5th, she should be given immunity as long as she leads us to those responsible! Nothing unconstitutional about that – the 5th is not to protect others. There is evidence she violated the law! She should be jailed for that – we don’t need her testimony about that!
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I agree. I believe she has the goods on people above her and this is the only way to get that info from her. It may seem reprehensible to let her get off free from this but if it leads to bigger fish than it should be done.
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‘Hold on Holder’ … haven’t they had enough of that guy! There’s enough ‘contempt’ to go around for all of them – like a second course dinner. Are there any legit hens left in the hen house – I thought there were only weasels living in there.
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There are no hens, they have all been eaten. But you are right; there is no shortage of weasels.
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It’s about time they finally moved against someone. I just want to know when they’ll have Holder arrested. Do you think he’ll get the same cell as John Mitchel?
It’s only a dream, but….
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I am not holding my breath on that one, however it is nice to dream!
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Remember how the Watergate prosecutors kept the pressure on until John Dean rolled over? That’s what needs to happen now. Somewhere in the Obama admin is one loose brick. Knock that brick loose and Obama’s house comes down.
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I agree; at some point somebody has to crack and if that happens all bets are off!
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This is why I disagree with your view, Steve. I don’t say this to change your mind nor am I saying your opinion is wrong.
When she was called to testify, she was called as an agent of the government, she was not a private citizen. Since we delegate great authority over us to the government, government agents must account to us for all their behavior. They cannot exercise the power of a government agent AND claim the Right of a citizen to NOT account to us.
If they want to claim a Right of the People to not testify, they must resign, become just a citizen, and claim a citizen’s Right to not incriminate themselves. We must hold them to a higher standard. This goes for most all government agents – elected officials, justices, LEOs, prosecutors, etc., but not lower level government employees.
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You make a very compelling argument Laura and you have me rethinking my position. I just have this distrust with our elected officials and I am still leery that this could be expanded to the point where politicians will claim citizens can give up their rights.
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House could send its sergeant-at-arms to arrest Lerner and bring her to the floor of the House for trial. usat.ly/1qfLR1m It was in USA Today, or google it.
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/07/lois-lerner-contempt-of-congress/8815051/
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They better quit pussy-footing around. Did you see what the citizens of Albuquerque did? They took over a council meeting and tried to serve a citizens’ arrest warrant on the mayor – might have the sheriff.
If Congress doesn’t start obeying us again, they might find themselves physically removed by the People.
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Let us hope they can put on their big boy pants and soon.
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Very interesting Laura, I hadn’t heard this. It about time for the people to take back our government and this is a step in the right direction!
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Thanks for the link, it appears as if the Contempt vote may have worked because now the IRS is saying they will release all of her emails! This could get interesting!
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Starting to get interesting, isn’t it?
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It sure is!
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