In perhaps a not so surprising turn of events, the lawyer for Lois Lerner has announced that his client will invoke her Fifth Amendment rights in order not to incriminate herself as a result of her pending testimony before a Congressional Committee investigating possible IRS abuses.
From the UK Mail Online:
From the UK Mail Online:
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday afternoon that Lois Lerner, who heads up the Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt division, plans to invoke the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs.Events like this make me wonder what back channel conversations or events are taking place. These events could include White House purchases of 55-gallon barrels of industrial strength Kaopectate because Obama has got to be s**ting himself. Watch to see if a porta-potty suddenly appears on the back of his golf cart.
The Fifth Amendment provides that U.S. citizens may not be compelled to offer testimony if telling the truth would incriminate them.
Lerner's defense lawyer, William W. Taylor III, wrote to the committee on Tuesday that his client would refuse to answer questions related to what she knew about the extra levels of scrutiny applied to conservative nonprofit organizations that applied for tax-exempt status beginning in 2010.
She also will decline to say why she didn’t disclose what she knew to Congress, according to the LA Times.
Lerner 'has not committed any crime or made any misrepresentation,' Taylor's letter read, 'but under the circumstances she has no choice but to take this course.'
Secret Service folks. That's right, the President is playing through thank you. Give the man a Mulligan and an Imodian A-D.
UPDATE:
As Ms. Lerner has already submitted testimony before the Committee, she may not be allowed to take advantage of her Fifth Amendment rights. From RealClear Politics:
UPDATE:
As Ms. Lerner has already submitted testimony before the Committee, she may not be allowed to take advantage of her Fifth Amendment rights. From RealClear Politics:
REP. TREY GOWDY (R-SC): Mr. Issa, Mr. Cummings just said we should run this like a courtroom, and I agree with him. She just testified. She just waived her Fifth Amendment right to privilege. You don't get to tell your side of the story and then not be subjected to cross examination. That's not the way it works. She waived her Fifth Amendment privilege by issuing an open statement. She ought to stand here and answer our questions.Life's a bitch and so are you honey.
9 comments:
I believe when someone pleads the "5th" they are guilty of something. Oh wait, I can't remember, I heard it when you heard it, and my favorite I don't know, were the excuses up until now. I guess she remembers and (I hope this happens but won't) doesn't want to work for "WE THE PEOPLE" anymore.
Plead the fifth or have a fifth?
She shouldn't be allowed to plead the fifth. She isn't a citizen, she is a public servant and these are matters relating directly to those affairs. With privilege comes responsibilities. She has no right, as a public official, to privacy, or even legal outs others have. If that isn't the law it needs to change.
Kid,
*Big Grins*
Doom, :)
Yea, I'm serious
Doom, "Not allowed to plead the 5th."
That was my first thought, and I'll admit I don't know if they have that right in this context. I don't think they should but at the same time, I believe they should be subject to any law they pass that affects the rest of us, so in the abstract, I think they do have that right, and what is missing is they are NOT subject all the shit they pass for US.
I was serious too. *deliriously big grin*
The government shouldn't have equal rights, let alone more rights. I'm serious about that too. They have to prove their innocence, not have us assume it.
Doom, At least I can do Something :)
Ok, I've thought about it since yesterday. *I* say government officials CANNOT Take the 5TH in matters involving the potential abuse of Citizens. No Fucking Way.
That's the way it should be.
We're so screwed man. 3 generations of facebook addicted morons who've been thoroughly brainwashed by our communist indoctrination centers known as the public school system.
A suspect in a murder trial can plead the 5th at any time, even if he/she has already answered other questions. And there have been plenty of times when people are brought before congress that they give a written statement, then refuse to answer any questions (Mark McGuire did it, and nobody claimed he didn't have the right to do so.)
Under the Constitution we all get the same rights, even if we dislike or disagree with each other.
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