House Launches Effort to Impeach IRS Commissioner

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times House Republicans kicked off the path to impeaching  IRS Commissioner John Koskinen Tuesday with a hearing exploring the ways the agency chief hired to clean up after the tea party targeting scandal instead bungled the probe and botched his handling of a congressional subpoena. Mr. Koskinen declined to appear to testify citing a crowded schedule. And lawmakers blocked his written testimony he submitted defending himself from even being entered into the hearing record saying he had his chance to defend himself and refused to appear. But Rep. Jason Chaffetz chairman of the House Oversight Committee that has pursued the investigation into the tea party targeting s aid theres little question Mr. Koskinen has broken faith with Congress.

When Congress asks you a question youre expected to give a truthful answer. And when Congress gives you a subpoena compliance isnt optional" the Utah Republican said laying out the case for punishing Mr. Koskinen.

Mr. Chaffetz has written a censure resolution rebuking Mr. Koskinen and a number of lawmakers have called for the agency chiefs impeachment. The case stems from the IRSs targeting of tea party groups which saw agency officials delay tax-exempt status applications for years while posing intrusive questions that the IRS has admitted never should have been asked