August 5, 2016


Mr. Lenard W. Wahlert
8 Rubis Way
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4227

Dear Mr. Wahlert:

Thank you for contacting me with your views regarding
H.Res. 828, a resolution to impeach John Andrew Koskinen, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for high crimes and misdemeanors. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

As you may know, H.Res. 828 was introduced by Representative John Fleming of Louisiana on July 13, 2016, and subsequently referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. If passed by the House of Representatives, this resolution would introduce articles of impeachment to the United States Senate, who would then decide whether to proceed to trial . Mr. Koskinen is accused of impeding the investigations into alleged mistreatment of Americans by the IRS based on political affiliation that occurred under the previous commissioner. In particular, the resolution accuses him of failing to lawfully respond to a congressional subpoena issued by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which demanded that he provide all communications sent or received by a former IRS official, Lois Lerner between January 1, 2009 and August 2, 2013. Those records, including 24,000 emails, were subsequently destroyed by IRS employees in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Led by Representative Fleming, some members of the House considered using a privileged motion, a procedure that applies to only certain bills and resolutions and is not commonly invoked, to immediately bring the resolution up for a vote of the whole House. This action would have skipped consideration by the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over impeachment resolutions. Although Mr. Fleming had planned to bring his privileged resolution to the House floor on September 15, he agreed to hold off proceeding with that resolution until after Mr. Koskinen testified under oath before the Judiciary Committee. This resolution is now not expected to come before the House until mid-November at the earliest. You can rest assured I will keep your views , as well as the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, in mind s hould this resolution receive a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Again, thank you for giving me the benefit of your views. Please continue to keep me informed on any federal issue of importance to you.




Sincerely,

Dana Rohrabacher
Member of Congress