Cornyn on IRS: Holder Picking Special Counsel Like 'Fox Guarding the Hen House'

Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn told PJ Media that he opposes having a special counsel investigate the IRS targeting conservatives.

“I actually think it’s probably a mistake to call for a special counsel – actually what it’s called now – because they’re appointed by Eric Holder and that’s really the fox guarding the hen house,” Cornyn, Senate minority whip, told PJ Media on Capitol Hill.

“No accountability, and just rife with conflicts of interest.”

Some Republicans and Democrats have said a special counsel is needed to find out who was responsible for holding tea party and other conservative organizations applying for tax-exempt status to special requirements.

Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman has said that a “special counsel is going to end up being necessary here, because it has to be independent of the White House.”

Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said he is open to a special counsel.

“I am keeping an open mind on that. I wouldn’t rule it out in terms of special counsel,” said Durbin.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain holds a similar position on the matter.

“I think that there may be an argument for a special counsel here,” McCain said last week.

PJ Media also asked Cornyn, a member of the Judiciary Committee, for his opinion of Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz floating the idea of abolishing the IRS and replacing it with a flat tax.

“I think that has some merit,” Cornyn responded.

“The fundamental problem is the IRS has gotten far off field from its core mission which is raising the revenue necessary to fund the federal government and now it’s involved in policing political speech and pretty soon it’ll be the enforcer for Obamacare.”

Cornyn added that “it would be important to give it – in whatever way it is structured in the future – less discretion and more clarity in terms of what its responsibilities are.”