Darrell Issa: GOP’s resident thug
Why the zealot rejected Lois Lerners offer to share testimony through her attorney -- in favor of shaming her
JOAN WALSH
The farce that is Rep. Darrell Issa continues. He put on an amazing spectacle shutting down the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings, on Wednesday, repeatedly cutting off Cummings microphone and, finally, turning his back and walking away. I especially loved Issas little gesture pulling his finger across his throat like a knife, to cut the mic a second time. I called it thuggish on Politics Nation and folks on the right arent happy. Thats OK; it was thuggish.
Issa had once again called former IRS supervisor Lois Lerner to testify before the committee, knowing she was going to again use her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. But what Issa didnt reveal is that Lerners attorney had offered last month to share her answers to the committees questions via whats called a proffer. Thats when the subject of an investigation reveals the rough outlines of what they know, which can also help determine whether they deserve immunity from prosecution (in order to get them to share more). But Issa rejected the proffer and staged a show trial designed to have Lerner take the Fifth again, in front of television cameras and a packed hearing room.
Cummings asked for time to make a statement, once Issa announced himself satisfied that Lerner wouldnt testify Wednesday and tried to adjourn. Thats when Issa cut his mic.
Were adjourned. Close it down, Issa said.
I am a member of the Congress of the United States of America. I am tired of this! Cummings replied, though his mic was off. You cannot just have a one-sided investigation. There is something absolutely wrong with that. It is absolutely un-American
Chairman, what are you hiding?
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http://www.salon.com/2014/03/06/yes_darrell_issa_acted_like_a_thug/