In response to comments by the Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yesterday, Congressman James Lankford released the following statement:
“The American people know instinctively that there is a serious problem at the Internal Revenue Service and that this is the moment to resolve the issue — not sweep it under the rug. We now know that many offices were involved in the political targeting of Americans, but we have not identified the specific individuals, we have not seen all the facts and we have not fixed the problem.
“Day after day, the White House has told the American people that ‘the President is interested in getting all the facts’ and ‘are interested in legitimate congressional oversight. No one — from either party — should try to rush to judgment, declare the case ‘solved’ or have the audacity to say the American people should ‘move on’. The IRS investigation should ‘move on’ based on the facts.”
Excellent. Please add to this the repeal of the Patriot Act and criminal prosecution for those who have violated either their Oath of Office or federal law, and support immunity for all the various whistleblowers standing up for the Constitution. The actions of Mr. Snowden are in particular heroic.
The 4th Amendment of the Constitution reads: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
For reference, here is the Oath of Office sworn by all members of Congress: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
The Oath is for the defense of the Constitution. It is not for some nebulous threat of danger, real or imagined, to the safety of the People. The greatest threat to the People of this country today is our own government. I encourage our delegation to recognize this, and do what they can to restore the Republic.