Earlier this month, the House Oversight Committee voted to hold former head of tax exempt groups at the IRS Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress.The full House is set to vote on contempt charges for Lerner in May.
Now her attorney, William W. Taylor III, is asking for the opportunity to defend her in front of Congress before the vote is taken. Taylor is arguing it would be unfair and "un-American" to hold Lerner in contempt.
Many on the Oversight Committee, including former prosecutor Trey Gowdy, believe Lerner waived her Fifth Amendment rights last year when she made a more than two minute long statement which included, "I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations. And I have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee," before saying she would be exercising her right to remain silent. Further, recently revealed emails show Lerner was in contact with the Department of Justice about the possible criminal prosecution of conservative taxpayer groups her old FEC friends were "pushing to shut down."
As Fox News' Chad Pergram notes, the defense of a client in front of Congress is usually reserved for the President of the United States.
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