Issa Pulls Plug On Hearing Before Witness Can Debunk Him
Issa seemed to catch everyone off guard Wednesday when he suddenly pulled the plug on his committee hearing before witnesses could even testify.
Issa read his opening statement for the hearing on potential abuses of taxpayer funds by the White House’s new political office, and let his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), read his statement before declaring the hearing over. Two witnesses who came prepared to testify were dismissed. A source who was in the hearing said one of Issa’s witnesses, Carolyn Lerner, the director of the independent Office of Special Counsel, appeared to leave angrily.
“She didn’t say a single thing,” said this source, who requested anonymity. “She literally just left the hearing room.”
So what happened? …
Two things were apparent to those following the hearing: First, Issa began the hearing irritated that the White House had dismissed his subpoena to compel Obama’s political office director, David Simas, to testify. He called it “deeply disturbing” that White House counsel Neil Eggleston said Simas was immune from a congressional subpoena. Second, and perhaps more tellingly, Issa may have wanted to prevent Lerner from testifying since, based on the written testimony she provided ahead of the hearing, she was planning to say the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach had done nothing inappropriate, which contradicted Issa’s claims leading up to the hearing.
Lerner’s shop is charged with enforcing the federal Hatch Act’s prohibitions against federal employees engaging in political activity, which makes her the go-to person in the event of allegations of wrongdoing by the White House political office. She was prepared to tell the committee she did her homework and found nothing wrong.
HuffPo also has an excerpt from her prepared remarks:
OSC received copies of correspondence between Chairman Issa and the White House concerning the establishment of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach (OPSO). The White House did not consult with OSC about establishing the OPSO. However, based on our review of the White House correspondence to the Committee, it appears that the White House adhered to OSC guidance in determining the scope of activity for the office. To the extent that OPSO’s activities are limited to those described in the White House correspondence, OPSO appears to be operating in a manner that is consistent with Hatch Act restrictions.
But wait — there’s more!
Click here for reuse options!The White House, meanwhile, took shots at Issa for needlessly issuing subpoenas. As of Wednesday, Issa has issued a total of 99 subpoenas since becoming committee chairman — more than the past three chairmen combined.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
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Shades July 17th, 2014 at 09:10
Everybody, all together now, surprised face.
Orrin Cratch July 17th, 2014 at 09:55
Just sayin’…
Orrin Cratch July 17th, 2014 at 09:55
Just sayin’…
Dave July 17th, 2014 at 10:29
Issa, needs to be removed from office.
Dave July 17th, 2014 at 10:29
Issa, needs to be removed from office.
eaglesfanintn July 17th, 2014 at 14:55
I wonder if Boehner, after a half a bottle of scotch starts ranting about what a mistake it was to put this guy in charge of any committee. Probably screams how Issa could screw up a one person parade.
urbanegorilla July 17th, 2014 at 16:35
It’s all theater. The GOP doesn’t want facts..they don;t even acknowledge reality… they just want irate followers to repeat their BS. BTW.. I’m an ex-GOP voter. Nixon through Bush Jr’s 2nd term.
eaglesfanintn July 17th, 2014 at 14:55
I wonder if Boehner, after a half a bottle of scotch starts ranting about what a mistake it was to put this guy in charge of any committee. Probably screams how Issa could screw up a one person parade.
urbanegorilla July 17th, 2014 at 16:35
It’s all theater. The GOP doesn’t want facts..they don;t even acknowledge reality… they just want irate followers to repeat their BS. BTW.. I’m an ex-GOP voter. Nixon through Bush Jr’s 2nd term.
Charles Almon July 17th, 2014 at 15:35
Poor Gowdy Dowdy.
They caught the ring leader, real or imagined,
more an more of the military come forward, confirming
committee reports, that there was no stand down order.
I guess all Trey can do, is show up with yet ANOTHER new hairdo.
Dora Glasberg July 17th, 2014 at 15:35
Poor Gowdy Dowdy.
They caught the ring leader, real or imagined,
more an more of the military come forward, confirming
committee reports, that there was no stand down order.
I guess all Trey can do, is show up with yet ANOTHER new hairdo.
Skip Patterson July 17th, 2014 at 15:52
Isn’t it contradictory that right-wingers have all the tax money in the world to spend on useless investigations that is based on zero evidence of wrongdoing, but ask them to pony up a quarter so that someone else might have food to eat and you’d think the government was going to collapse. What craven hypocrites.
Skip Patterson July 17th, 2014 at 15:52
Isn’t it contradictory that right-wingers have all the tax money in the world to spend on useless investigations that is based on zero evidence of wrongdoing, but ask them to pony up a quarter so that someone else might have food to eat and you’d think the government was going to collapse. What craven hypocrites.