Congressman Mike Rogers made the following remarks today in response to the announcement that the House will vote this week on H.Res.565, a resolution calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special counsel to investigate the targeting of conservative non-profit groups by the Internal Revenue Service. The House of Representatives also announced that a resolution would come to the floor recommending that Congress finds Lois G. Lerner, Former Director of Exempt Organizations at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in contempt of Congress.

Rogers said, “It is past time for Attorney General Holder to bring criminal charges against those responsible at the IRS for improperly targeting conservative organizations. Americans exercise their First Amendment right to free speech by supporting groups that share their views. Using the power of the government to hold these tax-exempt groups hostage – simply because of opposing policy views – is unbecoming of a nation as great as ours. All Americans deserve the truth behind this scandal.”

“Attorney General Holder’s failure to act and Mrs. Lerner’s refusal to provide Americans with answers is a disgrace. The IRS’s blatant abuse of power is unacceptable, and I offer my full support to these resolutions,” Rogers added.

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