Foxx Votes to Hold An IRS Director in Contempt

Last week, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) voted to hold former Internal Revenue Service Exempt Organizations Division Director Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress for her refusal to fully cooperate with an ongoing House investigation into improper IRS scrutiny of conservative non-profit groups.  “Lois Lerner led an IRS division that repeatedly and unfairly singled out conservative groups for exhaustive scrutiny, effectively sidelining them for an election cycle.  I voted to hold Ms. Lerner in contempt today because officials who abuse the public trust must be held accountable,” said Congresswoman Foxx. Lois Lerner appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last year and delivered a 305 word statement attesting to her innocence before refusing to answer questions, invoking her 5^th Amendment right not to incriminate herself in criminal activity.  The Congressional investigation into IRS scrutiny of conservative groups is ongoing. Lerner was held in contempt on a bipartisan 231 to 187 vote  in the House.