Plus, these server farms on which the e-mails are stored (and by law are required to be stored) are backed up in several layers. Usually daily, weekly, monthly with copies being held for overlapping periods. If a storage device had ever failed, the most that should ever have been lost would be on day.

The fact that they claim such a long period points to conspiracy to subvert justice. Unfortunately, this justice dpt will never pursue and they will never appoint a special prosecutor.

Issa may have subpoena power, but he cannot make someone talk without the coercive power to put them in jail (and even then, they might not be compelled). And on the other side of that equation is an unlimited ability for the P to provide a pardon - and don't think that he wouldn't. My personal opinion is that Lerner already has one (as do all other admin officials) it just hasn't been disclosed. That's why her lawyer made overtures to Issa that she was willing to talk, and then clammed up - she was bought off.