WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Committee has voted to hold a
former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for
refusing to answer questions at a pair of hearings.
The official,
Lois Lerner, previously headed the IRS division that processes
applications for tax-exempt status. Last May, after providing an opening
statement, she refused to answer questions at a House Oversight
Committee hearing about IRS agents improperly singling out tea party
applications for extra scrutiny. She again refused to answer questions
at hearing in March.
The Oversight Committee voted Thursday to
hold her in contempt. Committee chairman Darrell Issa said Lerner had
effectively waived her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions by
providing an opening statement at the 2013 hearing.
Lerner’s lawyer and Democrats on the committee disagree.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Committee has voted to hold a
former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for
refusing to answer questions at a pair of hearings.
The official,
Lois Lerner, previously headed the IRS division that processes
applications for tax-exempt status. Last May, after providing an opening
statement, she refused to answer questions at a House Oversight
Committee hearing about IRS agents improperly singling out tea party
applications for extra scrutiny. She again refused to answer questions
at hearing in March.
The Oversight Committee voted Thursday to
hold her in contempt. Committee chairman Darrell Issa said Lerner had
effectively waived her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions by
providing an opening statement at the 2013 hearing.
Lerner’s lawyer and Democrats on the committee disagree.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.