May 2014
Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2014)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to a new subpoena issued today by Chairman Darrell Issa to compel Secretary of State John Kerry to appear before the Committee on May 29, 2014:
Washington, D.C. (May 8, 2014)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, spoke on the House floor in opposition to the Republican resolution to establish a new "select committee" to investigate the attacks in Benghazi.
When introducing his resolution on the House floor today, House Speaker John Boehner stated: "This doesn't need to be, shouldn't be,and will not be a partisan process."
Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2014)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after the House voted to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress, despite the fact that she invoked her rights under the Fifth Amendment not to testify:
On May 7, 2014, Republican leaders plan to bring to the House floor a resolution introduced by Chairman Darrell Issa to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress. Below are key resources for Members and staff regarding the McCarthy era legal precedent for this resolution, statements from more than 30 independent legal experts concluding that the resolution is fatally flawed under the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings, and additional reports, letters, and statements.
No White House Involvement or Political Motivation Identified
Washington, D.C. (May 2, 2014)—Today, Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell E. Issa took the unprecedented step of issuing a unilateral subpoena demanding that a sitting cabinet Secretary testify before the Oversight Committee—in just over two weeks—and accusing him of a crime. Chairman Issa did not first send a letter making his request, he did not call to determine if the Secretary would be in the country, and he did not hold a Committee vote on his subpoena.