Huffman Statement on “Conspiracy Week” Votes on the House Floor

May 09, 2014

WASHINGTON­—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael)  released the following statement after voting against efforts to find Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress and establish a duplicitive select committee to investigate the tragedy in Benghazi:

“The vote finding former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress is a frivolous distraction. It is wrong as a matter of law to claim that Lerner waived her Fifth Amendment rights: the Supreme Court has clearly held that a witness does not waive her Fifth Amendment rights by professing her innocence before a congressional committee. Further, Chairman Issa failed to follow the steps the Supreme Court says are required by the Constitution to hold someone in contempt.

“In addition, this latest call by House Republicans for yet another investigation into the tragedy in Benghazi in 2012 is a waste of time. The attack that took the lives of Ambassador Stevens and three other public servants should not be politicized. The Benghazi attack has been thoroughly investigated—there have already been seven reviews of the tragedy, including one by the State Department Accountability Review Board, two bipartisan reviews in the Senate, and four reviews in the House. There is zero evidence to support the Republicans’ conspiracy theories: that the White House issued a “stand down” order to American forces who could have rescued the victims; or, that there was a White House cover-up.

“Enough is enough. Rather than continuing to waste valuable time pursuing election-driven conspiracy theories, the House of Representatives should work together on jobs and the economy, pass comprehensive immigration reform, and focus on other pressing issues.”

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