Boustany: "Lois Lerner must face the consequences of her actions."

Statement

Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., (R-South Louisiana), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, issued the following statement after voting for two measures (H. Res. 565 and H. Res. 574) aimed at preventing the IRS from targeting conservative groups based on their political beliefs. Boustany voted to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress and also voted in support of having Attorney General Eric Holder appoint a special counsel to investigate the targeting of conservative groups by the IRS:

"Senior IRS official Lois Lerner jeopardized Americans' freedom of speech when she allowed the IRS to wrongfully target conservative groups based on political affiliation. She refused to cooperate with Congressional investigations and continued to be defiant during her time at the IRS. There are consequences for those actions, and Lois Lerner must face them.

"The legislative branch has the duty and ability to investigate wrongdoing, to obtain documents, and conduct interviews. Congress has conducted thorough investigations, found probable cause to believe Lois Lerner committed crimes, and the House Ways and Means Committee sent those findings to the Attorney General. Congress has acted to the extent of its authority, and the Department of Justice seems either unable or unwilling to move forward in an impartial manner. The only alternative left is to request Attorney General Holder appoint a special prosecutor. This is the only way the American people will get the truth they deserve."

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