IRS commissioner dares House GOP to hold him in contempt over Tea Party

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

Looks like the new IRS Commissioner is not putting up with some of the crazy stuff the Republicans are asking for.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told a House panel that congressional investigators can try to hold him in contempt over theTea Party targeting scandal whenever they think that they can make the charge stick, something he thinks is unlikely.

The topic came up when Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., asked for a date at which it would be appropriate for agency officials to be held in contempt if they have not yet provided the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with documents that have been requested from the IRS.

"I think the timeline is whenever you think you could actually sustain that in a court," Koskinen replied. "I think we have a strong case that we have been cooperative, continue to be cooperative, and anybody looking at the systems we have and the time it takes would find that we've provided you more cooperation than, in fact, might be expected. And I think that, in fact, arguing and threatening contempt in that situation without understanding the circumstances is probably not going to be held up."

It wasn't the only time that accusations flew during a testy congressional hearing, as Rep.Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, forced Koskinen to admit that he had patterned his testimony on a proposed regulation affecting the political activity of nonprofits after a Treasury Departmentofficial's letter to Congress. Koskinen had previously said he had not conferred with administration officials.

"Do you view that as plagiarism, Mr. Koskinen?" Jordan asked.

"If I were publishing it for credit of one kind or another, I would," Koskinen replied. "If I find a good idea somewhere and I think it's appropriate to put into the public domain, I'm happy to do that."

http://washingtonexaminer.com/irs-commissioner-dares-house-gop-to-hold-him-in-contempt-over-tea-party/article/2546339?custom_click=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Robby999 1,024]

Why does he need to worry? The AG Holder will run interference for them as long as necessary!

Example: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/13/fbi-blocked-in-corruption-probe-involving-sens-rei/?page=all

Edited March 27, 2014 by Robby999

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You mean the fabricated scandal is just that? Fabricated?

[Pooky 3,786]

You mean the fabricated scandal is just that? Fabricated?

What, the scandal that it might takes years to assemble all the emails subject to the subpoena issued by Congress? The emails that most normal, averagely computer-literate (Hi, Senator Reid ) people could put together in a couple of days?

It's only a scandal because the IRS is stalling Congress, hoping to put off any consequences until after the mid-terms. If there's nothing to hide in them, why drag it out? Why not let these emails be seen for the nothing they are and avoid giving fuel to the Republican drive for the mid-terms?

Unless, of course, he knows exactly what's in those emails and what their release will do.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Just show us the Birth Certificate.

[UncleBeer 244]

The "phony scandal" without a "smidgen of corruption" where a government employee repeatedly takes the Fifth so she won't have to incriminate herself?

Note that the FBI was all over "Bridgegate" within 24 hours, yet 323 days after the IRS targeting was uncovered, the FBI has yet to interview any of the IRS' conservative targets. Gangsta government at its finest ....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The "phony scandal" without a "smidgen of corruption" where a government employee repeatedly takes the Fifth so she won't have to incriminate herself?

Note that the FBI was all over "Bridgegate" within 24 hours, yet 323 days after the IRS targeting was uncovered, the FBI has yet to interview any of the IRS' conservative targets. Gangsta government at its finest ....

There's nothing to investigate with the IRS. This supposed "scandal" is nothing but manufactured outrage. You were had. Along with all your right wing buddies. Might be hard to admit but the sooner you do, the sooner you can realize that you were taken for a ride and deal with that in constructive ways. Acknowledging your issue is the first step to resolve it. Give it a try.

[UncleBeer 244]

There's nothing to investigate with the IRS.

Of course not. Asking questions of our employees and elected officials should be discouraged, right?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Of course not. Asking questions of our employees and elected officials should be discouraged, right?

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

What, the scandal that it might takes years to assemble all the emails subject to the subpoena issued by Congress? The emails that most normal, averagely computer-literate (Hi, Senator Reid ) people could put together in a couple of days?

It's only a scandal because the IRS is stalling Congress, hoping to put off any consequences until after the mid-terms. If there's nothing to hide in them, why drag it out? Why not let these emails be seen for the nothing they are and avoid giving fuel to the Republican drive for the mid-terms?

Unless, of course, he knows exactly what's in those emails and what their release will do.

I don't know if the Commissioner is correct about how long it will take to release the emails but I do know that because of the Disclosure laws that each email needs to be reviewed to make sure that any information that is not permitted to be disclosed is redacted. So it is not as simple as finding Lois Lerner's emails and then just copying them onto a thumb drive.

[B_J 2,752]

What, the scandal that it might takes years to assemble all the emails subject to the subpoena issued by Congress? The emails that most normal, averagely computer-literate (Hi, Senator Reid ) people could put together in a couple of days?

It's only a scandal because the IRS is stalling Congress, hoping to put off any consequences until after the mid-terms. If there's nothing to hide in them, why drag it out? Why not let these emails be seen for the nothing they are and avoid giving fuel to the Republican drive for the mid-terms?

Unless, of course, he knows exactly what's in those emails and what their release will do.

I have no idea whether there is a scandal or not; but if there is nothing there then why not provide the documents, why not answer questions? Of course, this doesn't prove guilt but it still seems odd - almost suspicious.

[UncleBeer 244]

I don't know if the Commissioner is correct about how long it will take to release the emails but I do know that because of the Disclosure laws that each email needs to be reviewed to make sure that any information that is not permitted to be disclosed is redacted. So it is not as simple as finding Lois Lerner's emails and then just copying them onto a thumb drive.

The only thing that would need redacting are names and personal info of taxpayers; that wouldn't take long: certainly not 'til after the midterms as the IRS flak brazenly claimed yesterday; especially since Lerner was active only in a supervisory role; most unlikely there'd be taxpayers' info in her emails. Probably only policy stuff in her emails, which would prove damaging only to her and Obama's 'administration. That's what would take a long time to redact.

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

The only thing that would need redacting are names and personal info of taxpayers; that wouldn't take long: certainly not 'til after the midterms as the IRS flak brazenly claimed yesterday; especially since Lerner was active only in a supervisory role; most unlikely there'd be taxpayers' info in her emails. Probably only policy stuff in her emails, which would prove damaging only to her and Obama's 'administration. That's what would take a long time to redact.

You make a good point about her emails maybe not having the personal information of taxpayers but still the only way you can do that is by reviewing each email. I have had to review my emails as a result of FOIA requests and it is a pain in the ### to do it.

Edited March 28, 2014 by CarlosAndSveta

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[UncleBeer 244]

You make a good point about her emails maybe not having the personal information of taxpayers but still the only way you can do that is by reviewing each email. I have had to review my emails as a result of FOIA requests and it is a pain in the #### to do it.

I'm sure it's a "pain in the ####". Nixon was about to be impeached for faaar less than this guy's gotten away with. I'm sure it might take some man-hours to do, but a) the future of the country's at stake, b) Congress has ordered it, c) the IRS, the Obama administration and AG Holder have shown a remarkable unwillingness to be forthcoming regarding this. Any normal person would find this suspicious. It's worth doing.