Audiance Gasps at House Ways and Means Committee Hearing When IRS Commissioner John Koskinen Admits Lois Lerner’s Missing Hard Drive Was Recycled & Destroyed

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp  said in his opening statement, “We are missing a huge piece of the puzzle. How convenient for the IRS and the administration.”

During Friday’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the IRS conservative targeting scandal, audible gasps could be heard in the room from the audience as IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told Congress that Lois Lerner’s hard drive was recycled and destroyed. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), House Ways and Means Committee Chair questioned IRS Commissioner Koskinen on the condition and location of Lois Lerner’s hard drive. When asked by Camp whether the IRS Commissioner knew where Lerner’s hard drive was Koskinen responded, “after it was determined that it was dysfunctional and that with experts no emails could be retrieved was recycled and destroyed.” When further pressed as to where the hard drive was Koskinen responded, “I have no idea what the recycler does with it. This was three years ago.”

Imagine saying the same to an IRS agent during an audit, I have no idea where the data was, that was 7 years ago.

Transcript of discussion between US Representative and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp (R-MI):

Rep. Camp: Do you know where the actual hard drive is that crashed in 2011?

IRS Commissioner Koskinen: I am advised that the actual hard drive after it was determined that it was dysfunctional and that with experts no emails could be retrieved was recycled and destroyed in the normal process.”

GASPS from the audiance

Rep. Camp: So was it physically destroyed?

IRS Commissioner Koskinen: That is my understanding.

Rep. Camp: So was it melted down do you know?

IRS Commissioner Koskinen: I have no idea what the recycler does with it. This was three years ago.