Committee Votes to Censure IRS Commissioner - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

WASHINGTON—Today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved (23-15), as amended, and favorably reported to the U.S. House of Representatives, H. Res. 737 condemning and censuring Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John A. Koskinen. The Resolution expresses the sense of the House that Mr. Koskinen engaged in a pattern of conduct inconsistent with the trust and confidence placed in him as an Officer of the United States, urges Mr. Koskinen’s resignation or removal, and requires forfeiture of his government pension and any other federal benefits for which he is eligible.

The following actions were taken by the Committee:

Ranking Member Cummings (D-MD) offered an amendment. The amendment, as amended by the Chaffetz 2^nd degree amendment, was agreed to by voice vote.
- Chairman Chaffetz (R-UT) offered a 2^nd degree amendment which was agreed to by voice vote.
Rep. Cartwright (D-PA) offered an amendment which, by recorded vote (15-21), was not agreed to.

Background:

Mr. Koskinen should be condemned and censured for failing to comply with a subpoena and allowing key evidence to be destroyed on his watch, failing to testify truthfully under oath and providing false and misleading information to Congress, and failing to notify Congress that key evidence was missing.
The Committee released a video outlining the timeline of key events in the IRS targeting scandal.
In July 2015, Chairman Chaffetz, along with 51 members of Congress, sent a letter to President Obama calling for the removal of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. The White House did not respond.
On October 27, 2015 Chairman Chaffetz introduced H.J. Res. 494 to begin proceedings in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Commissioner Koskinen. The resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and currently has 78 co-sponsors.
On May 24, 2016, Chairman Chaffetz testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing titled, Examining the Allegations of Misconduct Against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, Part I.