Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) Rips IRS Official Lois Lerner a New One … Claims She Waived Her 5th Amendment Rights … Audiance Applauds (Update: Darrell Issa Says Lerner lost her rights)

After top IRS official Lois Lerner made an opening statement, she then invoked her 5th Amendment rights, and then was then dismissed by Rep. Issa from the  House Oversight Committee. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) then added his two cents and blasted Lois Lerner for her actions. Goudy stated, “You don’t get to tell your side of the story and then not be subjected to cross examination.” But that is the way it is in “BIG GOVERNMENT” out of control where you have an all too powerful agency like the IRS run by career bureaucrats who thumb their nose at “We the People”. The arrogance of those from the IRS that have testified has been one of smugness and defiance. America, this is what big nanny state government looks like where individuals believe they should be responsible for everything in your life from pre-birth to death

“Mr. Issa, Mr. Cummings said we should run this like a courtroom and I agree with him. She just testified. She just waved her Fifth Amendment rights. You don’t get to tell your side of the story and then not be subjected to cross examination. That’s not the way it works. She waved her right to Fifth Amendment privilege by issuing an opening statement. She ought to stand here and answer our questions. (Applause)”

UPDATE I: From The Politico, Darrell Issa: Lois Lerner lost her rights. As reported at NRO, Lerner May Have Waived the Fifth, Possible She Could Be Recalled.

“When I asked her her questions from the very beginning, I did so so she could assert her rights prior to any statement,” Issa told POLITICO. “She chose not to do so — so she waived.”

Lerner shocked the committee room in the opening moments of Wednesday’s hearing by delivering an opening statement denying any wrongdoing and professing pride in her government service.

[...]

Issa said late Wednesday that he’s consulting the House parliamentarian and outside counsel to determine how to proceed.

Legal experts, however, say Issa’s argument that Lerner has waived her Fifth Amendment rights might not be as strong as he suggests.