Charlie Spiering

Jay Carney flatters the press: ‘You are good at your jobs and you are smart’

washingtonexaminer.com — After a week of coming under fire from the White House Press Corps, Press Secretary Jay Carney turned to flattery at the beginning of his daily press briefing. Carney explained that in spite of all his preparation for the press briefing each day, he would not be able to answer every question from White House reporters.

10 Times the Fifth Amendment Has Been Used Before Congress

nationaljournal.com — "I will not answer any questions or testify about the subject matter of this committee's meeting." It wasn't as dramatic as some of Hollywood interpretations, but when Lois Lerner, one of the IRS officials in the heart of the agency's current scandal, invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, it was met by frustration by some committee members and penned as a rarity in congressional hearings by onlookers.

IRS official: I do not accept responsibility for actions of IRS employees

washingtonexaminer.com — During a House Oversight and Government Reform hearing today former IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman refused to take responsibility for the IRS employees who targeted Tea Party groups under his watch. Shulman was asked by Rep. Tammy Duckworth D-Ill. whether he was willing to take responsibility for employees under his authority, specifically referring to the conduct of IRS official Lois Lerner.

IRS official: I discussed Obamacare during White House visits

washingtonexaminer.com — Former IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman admitted during a House Oversight and Government Reform hearing Wednesday that he visited the White House multiple times and discussed the agency's role in the implementation of Obamacare. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questioned Shulman as to why he visited the White House 118 times in 2010-11.