Lois Lerner, the official who oversees tax exempt organizations at the IRS, announced at a House oversight hearing Wednesday that she will plead the Fifth Amendment and not answer the agency’s questions on advice from counsel.
But she insisted: “I have not done anything wrong. I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee.”
“While I would very much like to answer the committee’s questions today,” Lerner said, “I’ve been advised by my counsel to assert my constitutional right not to testify or answer questions related to the subject matter of this hearing. After very careful consideration, I’ve decided to follow my counsel’s advice and not testify or answer any of the questions today.”
Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) called on Lerner to reconsider. She again consulted with her lawyer and held firm in her refusal to answer questions. Issa accepted her position and excused her, “subject to recall after we seek civic counsel.”
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