Why ex-IRS official Lerner likely faces charges after taking the Fifth

On Thursday, a House committee is expected to take contempt action against former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner, based on how she asserted her Fifth Amendment rights. But would Lerner face jail time in the case?

Prison time seems unlikely, but Lerner’s case could trigger a public debate about the fine points of taking the Fifth Amendment. And with the Republicans controlling the House, contempt of Congress charges would seem to be imminent.

Lerner led an IRS division that reviews applications for tax-exempt groups, and she was called to testify before Congress about the alleged profiling of conservative groups for extra scrutiny by the IRS.

A House committee issued a subpoena compelling Lerner to testify before it.

http://news.yahoo.com/why-ex-irs-official-lerner-likely-faces-charges-100207431.html