Issa: IRS' Lerner Waived Her Fifth Amendment Rights

[Purveyor]

Lois Lerner, the head of the tax-exempt organizations division of the IRS, refused to answer questions before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday, but she waived her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent by making an opening statement, committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told CBS News on Thursday.

Issa told CBS News he feels "obligated" to bring her back to the committee and may do so after the House's Memorial Day recess.

--CLIP
"I have not broken any laws," she said. "I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations, and I have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee."

The whole committee, Issa said -- including Democrats -- were taken aback by her decision to make an opening statement. Indeed, her decision did prompt some outcry at the hearing, with Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., declaring, "That's not the way it works."

By making factual statements about the misconduct at the IRS, Lerner may have technically given the committee the right to ask her further questions, according to some legal analysis. Issa's office has said that after consulting with legal counsel, they have concluded Lerner's Fifth Amendment assertion is no longer valid. She remains under subpoena, and the committee is looking at recalling her for testimony.

MORE...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57585938/issa-irs-lerner-waived-her-fifth-amendment-rights/

[The Magistrate]

1. A Felon's Opinion On Law is Worth Little, Sir

[Cali_Democrat]

6. +1000

[librechik]

9. yup. King of the Clown College levies another brilliant and farcical judgement

if only because the investigation itself is absurd.

[LanternWaste]

10. I rarely (actually never) say this, but...

I rarely (actually never) say this, but "Booyah!"

You may now dramatically drop the microphone and walk off the stage disinterestedly to thunderous applause.

[Tx4obama]

2. Top attorney on TV last night said her opening statement was fine. Didn't affect 5th Amd rights

he also said if the GOPers push this issue that it could be tied up for many years.

He said this is a 'hearing' not a 'court of law'.

[Drale]

5. Issa believes he is judge, jury and exicutioner

he loves the fact that people compare him to Joseph Mcarthy, that's all you need to know to know is a terrible person.

[Bonduel]

7. Alan Dershowitz siad she absolutely waived her 5th amendment rights.

Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Suich]

8. Is that the guy that said Issa was like Insp. Clouseau?

[Drale]

3. Issa is a traitors asshat

who knows nothing about the constitution. You can plead the 5th at any point, and it doesn't matter if you make an opening statement, if at anymore point you feel like what you are asked is going to indite you, you can plead the fifth. Or I guess you can just claim you don't recall like CEO's do all the time.

[Cary]

4. Lots of luck claiming it was a clear and unequivocal waiver. n/t