Lois Lerner (IRS) Held in Contempt of Congress

[Taylor]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-committee-holds-lois-lerner-in-contempt-of-congress/

 

She pled the 5th, so clearly there isn't anything going on.

[mtangelsfan]

How is it possible to be held in contempt for pleading the 5th?  Isn't that a constitutional right?

[Jay]

Committee chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said Lerner had effectively waived her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions by providing an opening statement at the 2013 hearing. In her statement, Lerner said she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress.

[mtangelsfan]

Yeah, I read it.  Sounds like a convenient way to steal someone's rights away.

[Blarg]

How is it possible to be held in contempt for pleading the 5th? Isn't that a constitutional right?

Not necessarily. If supeoned to testify in front if a Grand Jury you have no 5th amendment rights. It is possible that a Congressional inquiry holds similar authority.

[mtangelsfan]

That isn't what Congress is even arguing. 

[Jay]

Yeah, I read it.  Sounds like a convenient way to steal someone's rights away.

 

I'll let the aw.com legal team analyze this but anyway that's the reasoning behind the contempt citation.

[mtangelsfan]

Yeah, right along party lines.

[arch stanton]

She has to stand in a very long line of Americans who are in contempt of Congress.

[Count Orlok]

In other words, Issa is just being an asshat as usual.

[fan_since79]

She already 'testified' in giving her opening statement and arguing facts relating to her guilt/innocence. That's the legal spin the committee is giving this. She effectively waived her rights in that opening statement, and can't turn around now and plead the 5th.

[Crampknees]

I'll let the aw.com legal team analyze this but anyway that's the reasoning behind the contempt citation.

I concluded my analysis and came up with, she has nothing to say.  Where do I send my billable hours?