Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Thursday grilled a seemingly uninformed FBI Director Robert Mueller on the IRS scandal. Mueller was unable to answer basic questions about the investigation into the tax agency's political targeting of conservative groups.
"Based on everything I've seen, quoting [Rep. Elijah] Cummings, this case is solved," Jordan began. "What can you tell us?"
In response to several questions on the investigation, Mueller told Jordan he would either have to get back to Congress or declined to answer because the investigation was ongoing.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller testifies during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee June 13, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Mueller testified on the oversight of the FBI. Credit: Getty Images
"Can you tell me who the lead investigator is," Jordan pressed.
"Off the top of my head, no" the FBI chief replied.
"This is the most important issue in front of the country the last six weeks, you don't know who is heading up the case?" Jordan asked.
Mueller also said he hasn't been briefed recently on the IRS case and couldn't say how many officials were assigned to the investigation.
When asked if he had talked to any of the targeted groups since May 14 or if officials were attempting to contact them, Mueller said he had not and didn't know if other officials had contacted the groups.
"Some of them testified that they were paid a visit by the FBI," Jordan continued. "If the FBI did contact people involved in the IRS scandal, victims, groups, prior to the investigation when they were applying to tax exempt status, why was that the case?"
"I do not know," Mueller responded, later adding "You are asking questions about details of the investigation...I'll be happy to get back to you."
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questions a panel of witnesses at a House Oversight Committee hearing about last year's deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, sits at right. House Republicans insist the Obama administration is covering up information about the attack, rejecting administration assurances to the contrary and stoking a controversy with implications for the 2016 presidential race. Credit: AP
Jordan shot back: "I'm not asking you about details of the investigation, I'm saying why were people targeted before the investigation started. Why were they contacted by the FBI...I'm asking you basic questions about the investigation, like who's heading it up. And you can't tell me that."
When Jordan asked if he had any concerns about the way the inspector general conducted the IRS audit, Mueller again said he would have to "get back" to him.
"Is it appropriate for the one doing the audit to give the information to the people he's investigating and not giving that information to the oversight committee. Is that how an investigation is supposed to work?" a persistent Jordan asked, according to a rough transcript from Fox News.
However, his efforts were fruitless. "I can't comment on what is appropriate," Mueller said.
Watch the video of the uninformative testimony below:
(H/T: Fox Nation)
Featured image via Getty
