The hearings into the possible impeachment proceedings against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen kicked off today, and if you want to know which party is looking for accountability and which party wants to obstruct, deflect, and protect the government-sanctioned thuggery of the Internal Revenue Service, you will not find a more decisive example of that, than today.

As the hearing kicked into gear, Democrats wasted no time in turning the purpose for the hearings into an inquiry about Donald Trump and his tax returns.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) declared the hearing “an obvious sham” before asking Koskinen about the Republican presidential nominee’s tax returns, which he has said he will not release publicly because he is under a federal audit.

“Is there anything that would prohibit someone from releasing their tax returns, if they want to, because they’re under audit?” Nadler said, without mentioning Trump by name.

“No,” Koskinen responded.

“Can an individual use other people’s money run through a charitable foundation to enrich themselves or satisfy his personal debts or obligations?” Nadler asked.

Koskinen answered that tax-exempt organizations cannot use their funds to benefit their own members.

No doubt, Trump’s refusal to show his tax returns is an issue. He’s hiding something, and it is very likely that what we have learned this week about his seeming misuse of his foundation’s funds for personal gain is only the tip of the iceberg.

That being said, Trump is not involved in the case against the IRS in any way, shape, or form.

The point of this hearing is the revelation that since 2010, the IRS has appeared to have placed tighter scrutiny on conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status than other groups. In 2013, the IRS apologized to those conservative groups for any wrong doing.

Today’s hearings are to determine if Koskinen should face impeachment, but as the IRS has acted as Democrat enforcers, they, of course, do not intend to have a clean hearing.

Democrats hit everything from Trump Foundation monies to campaign contributions to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.) acknowledged the Trump questions while taking a shot at Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton when it was his turn to speak.

“I’ll refrain from asking about large nonprofits that might have taken and been influenced by foreign government contributions,” Issa said.

“That would be too sensitive to Mrs. Clinton.”

Ooohhh… Nice one.

Koskinen went on to deny any wrongdoing, and made the case for keeping his job.

The IRS chief acknowledged he had made false statements to Congress while testifying about his agency’s scrutiny of conservative groups, but he said it would be “improper” for lawmakers to impeach him. He added that it would slow IRS activities.

Translation: “Sure, I’m totally corrupt and I’ve lied, but it would be wrong for you to impeach me, because it would slow down the corruption and lying.”

That makes us all feel so much better.

Because the Democrat party are little more than a bed of unscrupulous vipers, and because John Koskinen is a smug, elitist troll, I’ll leave this video from two years ago of Rep. Trey Gowdy burning Koskinen down over this matter.