Once again, a man first elected to Congress in 2010, on a wave of Tea Party support (ironic in that IRS treatment of Tea Party groups is at the heart of this scandal), is once again setting the standard for his Congressional colleagues. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) didn't just walk away from today's House Oversight Committee Hearing into the IRS Scandal having best represented the anger of the American people when it comes to the scandal.
He also may have been instrumental in changing the course of future events when it comes to the testimony of IRS official Lois Lerner who, today asserted her fifth amendment rights only after issuing an opening statement that included her proclamations of innocence. Committee Chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) dismissed Lerner when it became apparent that she would not testify. Gowdy spoke up and was quite angry with Issa's decision.
Gowdy was applauded by those in attendance but Lerner was still dismissed:
Now, it appears that Issa will be recalling Lerner, based on her giving an opening statement. If Lerner is recalled, Gowdy will have been instrumental in pushing for it.
Some time after Lerner was dismissed, Gowdy, who was one of the last committee members to get his chance to talk to witnesses, set his sights on former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, who had already taken a beating from both Democrats and Republicans.
Gowdy gave no quarter to Shulman.
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