House Oversight Committee Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA) was “within his rights” to cut off the microphone of Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the ranking member of the committee, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Thursday.
When former IRS official Lois Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during a hearing on the agency’s scandal Wednesday, Cummings attempted to speak but was quickly shut down when Issa adjourned the meeting. The Democrat began shouting anyway.
“From what I understand, I think Mr. Issa was within his rights to adjourn the hearing when he did,” Boehner told reporters at a weekly press conference in Washington.
Asked if Issa’s action detracted from GOP efforts to tie the targeting scandal to President Barack Obama ahead of the midterm elections, Boehner stood by his chairman.
“I think he was within his rights to do what he did,” he repeated. “Darrell Issa is the chairman, he’s been an effective chairman, and I support him.”
