House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) on Sunday was unable to produce evidence to back up his claim that so-called "rogue" agents at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were "directly being ordered from Washington" to target tea party groups.
"As late as last week the administration's still trying to say there's a few rogue agents in Cincinnati when in fact the indication is they were directly being ordered from Washington," Issa insisted to CNN host Candy Crowley during a Sunday interview.
Crowley pointed out that Issa's committee had provided transcripts of an interview with one IRS agent who was asked if the practice of scrutinizing conservative groups had been ordered by Washington, and the agent replied, "I believe so."
"It's totally not definitive," Crowley observed.
"Well, that one isn't," Issa admitted. "But I will tell you, one of the agents asked for and got a transfer because that person was so uncomfortable that they wanted out of it."
The California Republican added that White House Press Secretary Jay Carney -- who he called a "paid liar" -- was "still making up things about what happens and calling this a local rogue."
"This is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of Washington headquarters," he insisted. "And we're getting to proving it."
"But as yet, you don't have the direct link," Crowley noted.
