IRS commissioner serves honorably, shouldn’t step down

By Carmine DiFazio, North Las Vegas

Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Regarding George Will’s column “Impeach the IRS director” (Las Vegas Sun, Oct. 8):

Mr. Will is wrong about John Koskinen’s impeachment. Mr. Koskinen is a decent and honorable career public servant with a stellar reputation as a respected Washington insider and leader. He is admired by civil servants, political appointees and politicians of both parties. But he made the classic mistake that some Washington civil servants make: He couldn’t say “no” to the president. He thought he had one more call to answer for government service and duty, in a job as IRS commissioner when nobody, not even him, could possibly do it.

A lesser person would have refused, or resigned soon after the personal and professional public drubbings he took from Congress and the news media. Not Mr. Koskinen. He is too noble, too dedicated and too committed. He would never take the cowardly way out by quitting.

As for his critics, such as Mr. Will, if and when Treasury Inspector General J. Russell George issues a report to Congress with clear and cogent proof that John Koskinen can’t/won’t perform his job, he should not be impeached or step down under political pressure/duress. He should serve — at the behest of the president — until the next administration is sworn in and/or a new commissioner is appointed.