Six months ago, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Darrell Issa subpoenaed the emails of former head of IRS Tax Exempt Organizations Lois Lerner. Lerner was in charge during the IRS' inappropriate targeting of conservative, patriot and tea party groups.
IRS officials have failed to comply with the subpoena and today during a hearing on Capitol Hill, Issa threatened IRS Commissioner John A. Koskinen, one of only two political appointees at the agency, with contempt.
"Unfortunately you've been more concerned with managing political fallout than complying with this Committee," Issa said, urging Koskinen to comply or "potentially be held in contempt."
Koskinen responded by saying it is difficult to track down all of Lerner's emails in the government system and that agents were still working to gather the proper information.
"Will you provide all of the emails?" Issa asked.
"We will give you redacted copies," Koskinen responded, adding that if Issa wants all of Lerner's emails, it could take years to get them delivered.
Earlier this month, Lerner plead the Fifth for a second time in front of the Committee and was also threatened with contempt.