House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz formally introduces a resolution to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, arguing that he violated the public trust by impeding Congress’ investigation into Lois Lerner’s illegal targeting of conservative groups in the run-up to the 2012 presidential election.
Reports The Hill (see also related Oversight Commitee press release):
Much of the committee’s impeachment charge centers around the destruction of several backup tapes that could have contained missing emails sent by Lois Lerner, the former official at the center of the IRS’s improper scrutiny of conservative groups.
Chaffetz’s resolution charges that Koskinen, who took over the IRS after the controversy emerged, failed to preserve 422 backup tapes that could have contained Lerner emails.
Republicans have argued Koskinen was not truthful when he told lawmakers he would hand over all her documents, given the destruction of the backups. Chaffetz also charged that Koskinen failed to notify Congress the evidence was missing.
But, in the past, the IRS has said it has fully complied with all investigations.
In July, Chaffetz’s panel indicated it could pursue action against Koskinen, after arguing he had misled the committee and impeded its investigation into the improper scrutiny. The committee had previously called for Koskinen to be fired.
