IRS official refuses to answer questions at scandal hearing
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
STORY: The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of a tax scandal about extra scrutiny of conservative groups told a congressional hearing on Wednesday she had done nothing wrong but asserted her constitutional right not to answer questions.
"I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws," Lois Lerner, head of the IRS tax-exempt unit, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
"I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and I have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee," she said. "Because I am asserting my right not to testify, I know that some people will assume that I have done something wrong. I have not."
That Lerner chose to give an opening statement before asserting her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination angered some lawmakers.
Republican U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy from South Carolina said Lerner had effectively waiv
STORY: The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of a tax scandal about extra scrutiny of conservative groups told a congressional hearing on Wednesday she had done nothing wrong but asserted her constitutional right not to answer questions.
"I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws," Lois Lerner, head of the IRS tax-exempt unit, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
"I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and I have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee," she said. "Because I am asserting my right not to testify, I know that some people will assume that I have done something wrong. I have not."
That Lerner chose to give an opening statement before asserting her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination angered some lawmakers.
Republican U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy from South Carolina said Lerner had effectively waiv