Corruption runs deep - Ranking member of Committee asked to explain 'surreptitious communication' with IRS

The House Oversight and Reform Committee is asking its ranking member, Elijah Cummings (D-MD) why he had surreptitious communication with the IRS over a group that received unlawful IRS scrutiny. The committee says the public deserves a "full and truthful explanation" of what was discussed between the Representative and the IRS.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - House Oversight and reform Committee chair Rep. Darrel Issa, (R-CA) sent a letter to Rep. Elijah Cummings on Wednesday asking him to explain why his staff "surreptitiously contacted the IRS" about True the Vote, a conservative group that was applying for tax exempt status.

The letter also says the situation: "raise[s] disturbing concerns about your possible motivations for opposing this investigation and your unwillingness to lend your support to efforts to obtain the testimony of former IRS Exempt Organizations Director Lois G. Lerner."

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Presently the Committee is contemplating holding Lois Lerner in contempt for refusing to answer questions about the scandal. It is fairly evident that the IRS harassed conservative groups, and some of the concern is that Cummings may have had a role in the scandal by contacting the IRS and alerting them to True the Vote.

For her part, Lois Lerner attempted to exercise her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, but then delivered a formal statement during a hearing last year. Doing so counts as an effective waiver of that right. She now faces compulsion to answer questions or go to jail until she agrees.

Meanwhile, Committee members want to know why one of their own apparently contacted the IRS in a possible effort to spur them to harass another organization, and why that same member of the Committee continues to resist calling Lerner to testify.

What is obvious to all America is that there is a consistent pattern of corruption which is being protected by obstruction. Authorities from Eric Holder to Lois Lerner, and now Elijah Cummings are refusing to answer questions and to cooperate with investigations.

Even with answers, it is evident that the corruption in the Obama administration could impact the nation for many years to come.

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