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For Immediate Release
Date: April 10, 2014
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Contact: Garrett Hawkins
Garrett.Hawkins@mail.house.gov
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Rep. Gosar Votes to Hold Lois Lerner in Contempt of Congress
'The blatant disregard of basic civil liberties, and the use of a government agency to harass, target, intimidate and threaten lawful, honest citizens smells like the worst form of authoritarianism'
U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) issued the following statement after voting to hold Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress at today's Committee on Oversight & Government Reform hearing:
"John Adams said that ‘facts are stubborn things.’ The facts establish that Mrs. Lerner acted with reckless disregard for the constitutional rights of United States citizens while working at the IRS and she must be held accountable. The blatant disregard of basic civil liberties and the use of a government agency to harass, target, intimidate and threaten lawful, honest citizens smells like the worst form of authoritarianism.
"President Obama erroneously claimed that there isn’t even a 'smidgen of corruption' in the IRS targeting scandal, and yet a trail of emails prove otherwise. Further, Mrs. Lerner is still refusing to testify on the grounds that she fears criminal prosecution. She should. She lied to Congress. She abused her position. She violated the rights of Americans. She tried to harm the electoral process and intimidate voters.”
Click HERE or the image below to watch Rep. Gosar's statement at today's hearing.
BACKGROUND
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR), of which Rep. Gosar is a member, voted today to hold Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a valid subpoena that compels her to testify. On May 22, 2013, in her first appearance before OGR, Mrs. Lerner plead the Fifth Amendment, but not before professing her innocence. That profession of innocence subjects her to cross examination and thereby invalidates her plea. Mrs. Lerner again plead the Fifth Amendment when called to testify on March 5, 2014. The full House of Representatives will now consider whether to hold Mrs. Lerner in contempt.
Mrs. Lerner was subpoenaed by OGR to provide testimony in regard to the targeting of conservative tax-exempt organizations by the IRS. Mrs. Lerner was the supervisor of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations.
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