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2014-04-29 Home Front: Politix
Lois Lerner's Lawyer: Holding Her in Contempt Would Be 'Un-American'
[BLOGS.WSJ] A lawyer representing former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner is requesting a chance to plead her case against a planned House vote to hold her in contempt of Congress.

On Friday, Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a memo to members that the House of Representatives would vote in May to hold Ms. Lerner in contempt of Congress over her refusal to testify before a congressional committee about IRS targeting of conservative groups. Ms. Lerner headed the division that handled the groups' applications for tax-exempt status, and is at the center of congressional investigations.

Ms. Lerner has twice declined to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, citing her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. GOP politicians argue that she waived her privilege by making a statement at the first hearing, professing her innocence of any wrongdoing.

They were further angered when it became known that Ms. Lerner gave a lengthy interview to the Justice Department about the matter. The committee approved a contempt resolution concerning Ms. Lerner earlier this month.

Ms. Lerner's lawyer, William Taylor III, said on Monday in a letter to GOP leaders that holding Ms. Lerner in contempt of Congress "would not only be unfair and, indeed, un-American, it would be flatly inconsistent with the Fifth Amendment as interpreted by the Supreme Court."

He cited legal precedents -- including some from the McCarthy era, when Congress went after alleged communists -- to show that courts have refused to uphold contempt-of-Congress citations against witnesses who decline to testify, citing their Fifth Amendment privilege.
Posted by Fred 2014-04-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ]  Top

#1 Fine - strip her pension instead.
Posted by Raj 2014-04-29 01:22||   2014-04-29 01:22|| Front Page Top

#2 Because?
Why is she special?
Seems she needs a new Lawyer, He's about to be disbarred.
Posted by Redneck Jim 2014-04-29 03:35||   2014-04-29 03:35|| Front Page Top

#3 Unfortunately a sternly written letter to the GOP may be all it takes to avoid justice.
Posted by Airandee 2014-04-29 06:56||   2014-04-29 06:56|| Front Page Top

#4  Unfortunately a sternly written letter to the GOP Beltway Party may be all it takes to avoid justice.

FIFY

They got to cover for 'one of their own'.
Posted by P2Kontheroad 2014-04-29 07:13||   2014-04-29 07:13|| Front Page Top

#5 It's a mystery to me why the press ever bothers to quote any lawyer about anything. IMHO it's the same as quoting a Sham-Wow commercial.
Posted by PBMcL 2014-04-29 12:07||   2014-04-29 12:07|| Front Page Top

#6 Because it fits their narrative, PBMcL.
Posted by Barbara 2014-04-29 13:31||   2014-04-29 13:31|| Front Page Top

#7 But, but...I believe Sham-Wow commercials.
Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2014-04-29 14:16||   2014-04-29 14:16|| Front Page Top

#8 Ebb - you're right. Sham-Wow commercials are MUCH more credible than lawyers...
Posted by PBMcL 2014-04-29 14:47||   2014-04-29 14:47|| Front Page Top

#9 Or Congresscritters!
Posted by CrazyFool 2014-04-29 16:21||   2014-04-29 16:21|| Front Page Top

#10 Speaking of the Sham-Wow spokesperson:

After SHTF:
Posted by Alaska Paul 2014-04-29 23:07||   2014-04-29 23:07|| Front Page Top

13:20 irish+rage+boy
13:16 Grom the Reflective
13:16 DarthVader
12:58 trailing wife









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