The head of the Internal Revenue Service division at the heart of the scandal over the targeted vetting of right-wing groups has refused to testify before Congress. Appearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Lois Lerner denied wrongdoing, but invoked her constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination.

Lois Lerner: “I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations, and I have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee. And while I would very much like to answer the committee’s questions today, I’ve been advised by my counsel to assert my constitutional right not to testify or answer questions related to the subject matter of this hearing.”

Lerner was the first IRS official to publicly acknowledge that right-wing groups were subjected to extra scrutiny in a flood of applications seeking charitable tax status. But questions have swirled around her role amidst reports she was made aware of the targeting as early as June 2011.