As pointed out yesterday, this was expected
(Fox News) The director of the IRS division that singled out conservative groups refused to answer questions Wednesday at a House hearing on the program, as a Democratic lawmaker warned there would be “hell to pay” if the agency stonewalls Congress on its investigation.
The IRS official, Lois Lerner, invoked the Fifth Amendment Wednesday as she declared she would not testify or answer questions on the advice of counsel.
“I will not answer any questions or testify about the subject matter of this committee’s meeting,” she said.
However, her statements prompted confusion in the hearing room, as she delivered a brief opening statement in which she claimed she had done nothing wrong. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said that given her other remarks, she may have “effectively waived” her rights.
She has every right to take the 5th, but, the thing about the 5th is that it is meant to protect citizens from self-incrimination, not so that people can immediately infer that there is no assumption of guilt. Though, people shouldn’t necessarily jump to the conclusion that the person did something wrong. While in a courtroom. In the justice system.
Ms. Lerner should also expect to be recalled to the Hill to testify (and probably take the 5th), and possibly face charges, both criminal and for contempt of Congress. A Blaze reader, Fellow_Citizen, makes an interesting point
Try this stunt when the IRS is investigating YOU. Your assets would be gone, your house and business would be gone, and you would be in jail.
Also, Issa brought the humor
HAHAHAHAH I <3 @darrellissa “I trust it will take no greater time than we give taxpayers to respond” on receiving transcripts from IG. #IRS
— Michelle Ray (@GaltsGirl) May 22, 2013
Issa cracks joke about IRS and the amount of time they give taxpayers to respond to requests. Gallery laughs.
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) May 22, 2013
Apparently the IRS provided some documents to Democrats, but not Republicans.
Oh, and apparently no heads are going to roll.
