FBI head, Robert Mueller, can’t answer easy questions, can’t name head investigator in IRS scandal

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Thursday grilled a seemingly uninformed FBI Director Robert Mueller on the IRS scandal. Mueller was unable to answer basic questions about the investigation into the tax agency’s political targeting of conservative groups.

“Based on everything I’ve seen, quoting [Rep. Elijah] Cummings, this case is solved,” Jordan began. “What can you tell us?”

In response to several questions on the investigation, Mueller told Jordan he would either have to get back to Congress or declined to answer because the investigation was ongoing.

“Can you tell me who the lead investigator is,” Jordan pressed.

“Off the top of my head, no” the FBI chief replied.

“This is the most important issue in front of the country the last six weeks, you don’t know who is heading up the case?” Jordan asked.

Mueller also said he hasn’t been briefed recently on the IRS case and couldn’t say how many officials were assigned to the investigation.

Mueller said he had not and didn’t know if other officials had contacted the groups.

“Some of them testified that they were paid a visit by the FBI,” Jordan continued. “If the FBI did contact people involved in the IRS scandal, victims, groups, prior to the investigation when they were applying to tax exempt status, why was that the case?”

“I do not know,” Mueller responded, later adding “You are asking questions about details of the investigation…I’ll be happy to get back to you.”

“I’m not asking you about details of the investigation, I’m saying why were people targeted before the investigation started. Why were they contacted by the FBI…I’m asking you basic questions about the investigation, like who’s heading it up. And you can’t tell me that.”

When Jordan asked if he had any concerns about the way the inspector general conducted the IRS audit, Mueller again said he would have to “get back” to him.

“Is it appropriate for the one doing the audit to give the information to the people he’s investigating and not giving that information to the oversight committee. Is that how an investigation is supposed to work?” a persistent Jordan asked, according to a rough transcript from Fox News.