Sen. Rand Paul said it’s not complicated: Former IRS official Lois Lerner has a quick and clear decision to make — either testify, or go to jail.
“You know, contempt is something you can go to jail for,” he said, Newsmax reported. “And it doesn’t happen often. In fact, I’m not sure if we ever had someone go to prison for a contempt order, but it is something that has a significant penalty. So she will have to decide: Is she going to risk going to jail, or testify in a truthful manner?”
His statements come as the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is voting on whether or not to hold the former IRS official — who is a key figure in the federal agency’s alleged targeting of tea party groups — in contempt of Congress.
House Speaker John Boehner said on Monday that “somebody at the IRS” should go to jail and vowed that the House would find her in contempt.
Ms. Lerner retired from her position but now collects a government pension, Newsmax reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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