Conservative House Freedom Caucus lawmakers are aiming to force a vote to impeach IRS head John Koskinen as a first order of business when Congress returns from its summer recess in September.
The Hill reports that in defiance of House Speaker Paul Ryan, Reps. John Fleming of Louisiana and Tim Huelskamp of Kansas filed a so-called privileged resolution Thursday.
The action follows the introduction on Wednesday of a measure to impeach the embattled IRS commissioner,
The Daily Caller reported.
Republicans have been
pushing for Koskinen's impeachment, alleging he misled Congress and violated a subpoena related to the IRS targeting conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.
"He deliberately kept Congress and the American people in the dark, making materially false statements under oath," Fleming said
in a statement Wednesday.
"Koskinen needs to be held accountable and in this case that means impeachment. We can no longer wait."
According to the Hill, House rules state "privileged" measures must be acted upon within two legislative days — meaning action is likely after the House returns after Labor Day. The House is expected to adjourn for a seven-week recess later Thursday.
Conservatives had urged Ryan to initiate hearings in the House Judiciary Committee to impeach Koskinen, but the panel hasn't moved to start impeachment so far.
The Freedom Caucus strategy recalls a similar move almost exactly a year ago that would have forced a referendum vote on then-Speaker John Boehner's leadership — though it wasn't filed as "privileged" resolution, the Hill notes.
Boehner announced plans to resign a few weeks after Congress reconvened the following September.
Impeachment proceedings have been initiated in the House more than 60 times, but less than a third led to full impeachments, according to the
House historian's office.
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