Acting IRS Commissioner: I'd 'Absolutely' Encourage Lois Lerner to Testify

Acting IRS commissioner Danny Werfel told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday that he would encourage Lois Lerner to testify before the Committee. 

Lerner, the head of the tax-exempt division who has been placed on paid administrative leave, took the Fifth before the Committee and refused to give testimony. 

After repeatedly deflecting questions on the matter from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Werfel, who previously told Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) that he realized the gravity of the job he now holds, finally said that he would encourage Lerner to come before the Committee. 

“Yes, as a general matter, I encourage anyone who has information … including Ms. Lerner … to come in front of this Committee,” Werfel finally said. 

When pressed again if he would encourage Lerner to come before the Committee, Werfel said, “absolutely.”

He would not directly answer whether Lerner is still being paid by taxpayers and acknowledged Lerner had important information to offer to the Committee.