Look to Lois Lerner for Clues to the Fate of John Koskinen

Whatever IRS official Lois Lerner may have done in regard to targeting conservative groups for extra scrutiny in the 2012 election cycle, she did set one example that Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen hopes to emulate.

The House Judiciary Committee plans to hold its second hearing in a month on Wednesday in an effort to impeach Koskinen. Republicans say Koskinen made false statements to the U.S. Congress during its investigation of the IRS targeting scandal.

Koskinen responded that the charges "lack merit." He has also said he plans to serve out his full term, which ends in November 2017.

Last week the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted along party lines on a resolution that censured Koskinen and called for him to forfeit his government pension.

But as with Lois Lerner before him, the power of Congress to strip Koskinen of any benefits is limited. It would require that both houses vote to impeach, with a two-thirds margin in the Senate – not likely with no support from Democrats.