'What we’re seeing in the House today is a sign of larger dysfunction.' | M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO Van Hollen: Issa's 'kangaroo court'

Rep. Chris Van Hollen said that a Wednesday dust-up between Reps. Elijah Cummings and Darrell Issa during an IRS hearing typifies the “kangaroo court” atmosphere Republicans are interested in.

“What we’re seeing in the House today is a sign of larger dysfunction and partisanship on behalf of Republicans,” Van Hollen said on MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” on Wednesday. “What are we doing today on the floor of the House? For the 50th time, we’re going to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, to get rid of Obamacare. That is all Republicans in the House want to do. That and this kind of kangaroo court you’re seeing here.”


The Maryland Democrat was responding to a clip of harsh words Cummings had after Issa concluded a hearing featuring former IRS official Lois Lerner. For the second time before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, of which Issa (R-Calif.) is chairman and Cummings (D-Md.) is ranking member, Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment rights to not answer questions about the IRS targeting scandal.

( PHOTOS: Lois Lerner returns to the Hill)

Cummings protested he had more questions after Issa gaveled the hearing closed, prompting a tense exchange.

Van Hollen slammed Issa for conducting a “witch hunt.”

“Darrell Issa has been conducting this political witch hunt for a long time now. He’s frustrated because he hasn’t been able to come up with any evidence of intentional political wrongdoing on the part of the Obama administration, and so he’s getting frustrated and making stuff up,” Van Hollen said, saying Issa also got “four Pinocchios” from fact-checkers on statements he’s made about the Benghazi terror attack. “Whether it’s Benghazi or whether it’s this trumped-up investigation of the IRS, Republicans are desperate.”