Lerner: ‘I Have Done Nothing Wrong’

IRS official Lois Lerner invoked the Fifth Amendment at this morning’s House Oversight Committee hearing and asserted that she did not break any laws during her time as director of the agency’s Exempt Organizations Unit.

“I have done nothing wrong,” Lerner said. ”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.”

She then told committee chairman Darrell Issa that she will not answer any questions on the advice of her attorneys.

After Lerner’s statements, Representative Trey Gowdy (R., S.C.) argued she “waved her right to Fifth Amendment privilege” by making those statements and urged that she stay and answer questions: ”You don’t get to tell your side of the story and then not be subjected to cross-examination.” Lerner was ultimately allowed to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights and leave the hearing.