In a recent House oversight committee hearing, Paul Ryan (R-WI) told IRS Commissioner John Koskinen that the big problem with his testimony about the mysteriously “lost” emails was that “nobody believes you.” A new Rasmussen Reports poll has proven that Ryan’s statement wasn’t just hyperbole.

The poll (conducted June 26-27) found that 71 percent of likely voters believe that the IRS intentionally destroyed emails related to the investigation into the targeting of conservative organizations. The poll also found that for the first time, a majority, 53 percent (up from 49 in February), believe that the IRS broke the law in the way it handled conservative “patriots” and “Tea Party” groups. Less than a quarter, 22 percent, believe that the IRS did not break the law, the other quarter remaining uncertain.

As Real Clear Politics points out, these results closely parallel those of a recent Fox News poll:

A recent Fox News poll found similar results, with more than three-quarters of those surveyed believing ex-IRS official Lois Lerner’s emails were deliberately destroyed. The belief is shared by respondents from both parties -- although to varying degrees -- including 90 percent of Republicans, 74 percent of Independents and 63 percent of Democrats.

Rasmussen found that likely voters’ opinions on how IRS employees should be penalized is likewise strong, with two-thirds saying any found guilty should be either fired or jailed, the other third recommending “formal reprimand” or “no disciplinary action.”