Lois Lerner Wants Immunity

**Ken** · 07-04-2013, 02:16 PM

"Surprise, surprise. After making an opening statement during a congressional hearing weeks ago on the IRS targeting of conservative groups and then pleading the fifth, Lois Lerner wants immunity."

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepa...andal-n1633351

"William W. Taylor III, attorney for Lois Lerner, said on Tuesday that Lerner would be willing to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee only if she would be granted immunity."

http://www.examiner.com/article/lois...-for-testimony

**Cast-Iron** · 07-04-2013, 02:57 PM

If it were up to me I'd tell her to take a hike. She blew her chance. She could have asked for such a deal before she announced her innocence in an opening statement and then refused to answer questions before the Congressional Oversight Committee. She must fear whatever it is they are uncovering. If they can hang anything criminal on her, and she can offer up bigger fish, maybe a plea bargain to a minimum sentence but no immunity. Never! It's about time these pompous public "servants" were held accountable for their criminal actions! Burn baby burn!

**crashdive123** · 07-04-2013, 06:17 PM

I'm surprised that she has not been held in contempt of Congress and jailed. I may not be the brightest cookie in the jar, but by testifying - which is what she did with her opening, prepared remarks she has IMO forfeited he 5th Amendment rights on the issues that she offered testimony.

**Ken** · 07-04-2013, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

I'm surprised that she has not been held in contempt of Congress and jailed. I may not be the brightest cookie in the jar, but by testifying - which is what she did with her opening, prepared remarks she has IMO forfeited he 5th Amendment rights on the issues that she offered testimony.

That's exactly what she did.

We've seen multiple instances of perjury, contempt, you name it, and the Congress has done NOTHING about it.

It would be nice if SOMEONE in that bunch grew a pair.

**gryffynklm** · 07-04-2013, 08:32 PM

Immunity... Pfft, like this is a reality show.

**Desert Rat!** · 07-04-2013, 10:38 PM

Not surprising .

**Rick** · 07-05-2013, 08:55 AM

There seems to be a lot if ire directed at Lerner, and rightfully so, but she is just one player in what was a very directed operation at the Tea Party as well as some other organizations but mostly the Tea Party. I am not a member of the Tea Party so this isn't some personal grudge I hold just some objective observations.

I think Senator Levin of Michigan needs to explain why he pushed the IRS so hard to do exactly what they did. Here's a link if you are not familiar with it.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013...ve-nonprofits/

Her former boss, Doug Shulman lied before Congress. He stated very plainly in his response that, "There is absolutely no targeting." Lerner claimed before Congress that Shulman didn't know anything about it when it's pretty clear he did. Add to the fact that the interim Director, Miller, knew about it as early as May of last year and he never once brought it before Congress in any of the times he testified before them.

Joseph Grant, who reported to Lerner, testified before Congress and lied about why the Tea Party was targeted. He said it was because campaign contributions increased dramatically and the non-profits were trying to affect the election. But the Federal Election Commission says that's not true. Contributions did not increase.

This isn't one woman lying to Congress. This is a very organization disinformation campaign that seems to lead to some very top folks. Not to get political but it certainly looks like the IRS did in fact receive pressure from Democrat elected officials to look at and slow down those who were opposed to that party. Whether this leads to the President or not I have no idea. I suspect he was at least made aware of it but we know for certain that Democrat Congressmen were applying pressure. That part is a fact.

Little surprise then that the commission voted along party lines as to whether Lerner perjured herself or not.

**Rick** · 07-05-2013, 09:19 AM

I guess as a follow up we also need to ask "how does something like this happen?". So, let's break it down step by step.

You are a top level official (Lerner) in the IRS working under a Democratic President (no party problems here just stating fact). A Democrat Senator (or more than one) approaches you and "requests" you take a special look at the tax exempt requests from some specific organizations. The wording is pretty clear, do something about this. You, no doubt, confer with your boss because this isn't just peanuts from taxpayers this is a Senator requesting you take specific action against targeted groups. The commissioner's job is held by a whim of the President so does he deny a command from a top level Democrat? Not on your heavens to Betsy he doesn't. He's going to do whatever he just got asked to do.

What happens if Lerner doesn't do anything?

Levin buttonholes Shulman in the hallway and says, "listen, I sent some concerns over to your gal Lerner. So far, nothing has happened. I'd really like for you to get involved with this personally. By the way, I'm meeting with the President on Thursday and I'm going to tell him what a great job you've been doing." Or something along those lines. I've seen this same crap play out in the private sector numerous times. And if Levin has any smarts about him, and he hasn't stayed in Congress as long as he has without having SOME smarts, he has someone like Reid or Leahy stop by Shuman's office and that meeting goes something like,

Pleasantries completed.

Reid/Leahy: "Doug, I wanted to bring something to you. This whole Tea Party thing is starting to become a thorn in the President's side. I think what they are doing just might be illegal. This whole non-profit thing and then they start sending money to these other candidates. That's just wrong in my book. Would you take a few minutes and take a look at that for me?"

All carefully choreographed by the Senators beforehand of course. I've gone into many a meeting and submitted a proposal and some other member seconded me or I seconded them. All planned out. That's just how it works.

I'm not saying what Shulman and Lerner did is correct. I'm just saying I can sure understand how it happens.

**Ken** · 07-05-2013, 09:56 AM

All I'm going to do is REMIND all of you that OVER 4 YEARS AGO I started a grassroots effort - right here in the Forums - to get Sourdough elected as President.

I worked tirelessly, day and night, on the campaign, and I was really disappointed when nobody here jumped on-board.

Had we worked really hard and been successful, there wouldn't be any of this

going on in Washington today.

**Rick** · 07-05-2013, 10:23 AM

Hey! We all got on board. You forget he's also an official tequila tester so we got sidetracked at every meeting. In fact, I woke up in a few places I won't even mention. I have no idea how you and I wound up in the same bed either. And 2Dumb won't tell me.

**crashdive123** · 07-05-2013, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Ken

All I'm going to do is REMIND all of you that OVER 4 YEARS AGO I started a grassroots effort - right here in the Forums - to get Sourdough elected as President.

I worked tirelessly, day and night, on the campaign, and I was really disappointed when nobody here jumped on-board.

Had we worked really hard and been successful, there wouldn't be any of this

going on in Washington today.

I voted for him during the last election. Did you?

**Ken** · 07-05-2013, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

I voted for him during the last election. Did you?

Yes I did. And as a matter of fact, I voted for him SEVERAL TIMES.

All you have to do is go through the obituary pages and match the names up with the voters lists. And then......

**Ken** · 07-05-2013, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Hey! We all got on board. You forget he's also an official tequila tester so we got sidetracked at every meeting. In fact, I woke up in a few places I won't even mention. I have no idea how you and I wound up in the same bed either. And 2Dumb won't tell me.

Please, please, please tell me that 2Dumb wasn't in that bed, too.