Freedom Caucus goes all-in on IRS impeachment

The House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday set in motion a plan to force a vote to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, bucking House GOP leaders who oppose the idea and worry it will lower the bar for such extreme actions in the future.

The group of right-wing rebels, led by Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Mark Meadows of North Carolina, had warned Paul Ryan on Tuesday it would file a privileged resolution — effectively bypassing leadership — if the House speaker did not agree to initiate impeachment proceedings in the Judiciary Committee.

Reps. John Fleming of Louisiana and Tim Huelskamp of Kansas filed a motion calling for Koskinen’s ouster. Because of the procedure they used to introduce the resolution, the motion is not “privileged” and is therefore referred to the Judiciary Committee, which does not have to act on the controversial measure.

However, Fleming and Huelskamp are expected to refile a similar motion on Thursday using a slightly different procedure, according to Republican leadership sources. This second resolution would be “privileged,” meaning whoever files it can force a floor vote on the measure, although with the House ready to adjourn for a seven-week recess, that would likely not take place until September.

Huelksamp said Wednesday there “will be some action on it tomorrow,” but he declined to say exactly what he, Fleming and the Freedom Caucus are planning.