As the House Judiciary Committee prepares to convene later this month to decide whether to seek impeachment against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, debate rages over the wisdom of the move, reports
Politico.
Koskinen, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, is accused of ignoring subpoenas and lying to Congress under oath on the IRS targeting of conservative tea party groups' applications for tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny.
Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis explained the importance of impeaching him. "If Commissioner Koskinen can get away with his conduct, then other executive branch agencies will have a blueprint for how to stymie the Congress when it conducts legitimate oversight,
WCBM reports.
But this determination to display Congress's seriousness over its discontent would also set a new precedent, as impeachment has rarely been used and, when utilized, done so only to punish treason, bribery and other "high crimes."
If this move succeeds, and unprecedently against a relatively low-level official, impeachment officials told Politico that it could debase the entire procedure, especially since Democrats say the evidence against Koskinen is not very solid.
It could also lead to a rash of such moves in the future, especially as a tool of revenge for whenever the Democrats are in once again in charge of the Congress.
Roll Call pointed out that Koskinen wasn't even in charge of the IRS when the scandal took place, and building such a case for reasons that are so political and unworthy of impeachment "could dissuade experienced, competent executives like Koskinen from accepting appointment to senior management positions within government."
In any case, experts said that since the House only needs a majority to impeach, but conviction requires an almost unobtainable, in this case, two thirds approval by the Senate, then the likelihood of this procedure leading to his removal from office is very slim.