For the second time in 10 months, the former director of the IRS, Lois Lerner, was called before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions connected with the Tea Party Targeting scandal.

But, no answers were forthcoming as Lerner repeatedly replied to Republican Chairman of House Oversight, Darrell Issa’s questions with, “On the advice of my counsel, I respectively exercise my Fifth Amendment right and decline to answer the question.”

Prior to the hearing, Issa said that the panel would consider contempt charges if she didn’t answer the questions posed by investigators at the hearing.

Lerner stepped into center stage of the exempt controversy after she admitted to and apologised for improper conduct during a tax conference. Lener quit her position as director in September. She quit as the IRS was readying to recommend that she be fired from the agency.

After Issa asked several unanswered questions of Lerner, he adjourned the hearing even as ranking member of the committee, Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) demanded an opportunity to speak. “Let me say what I have to say! I’ve had to listen to you for the last 15 to 20 minutes!” Cummings said. “I am a member of the United States Congress of America! I am tired of this!”

He continued to demand to be heard and shouted criticisms at the Republican members of the committee and called the proceedings “un-American,” before his microphone was turned off and the Republicans filed out of the proceedings.

It was on Sunday that Issa said that Lerner was going to answer any questions posed to her at the committee hearing. But, Lerners’s attorney, William Taylor pointed out that Lerner would only testify if she were given immunity from any prosecution in the matter.

Taylor also said that Lerner was only brought back by the committee to “vilify her.” “The objective seems clear to keep this controversy white hot throughout the next election cycle, and pander to anyone who is willing to believe that the IRS was engaged in a conspiracy to suppress conservative groups,” Taylor said.

Democrats point out that evidence shows that the targeting done by the IRS was not politically motivated and that the agency targeted liberal groups as well.