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Holder: We Didn't Lie About 'Fast and Furious'

He says charges are forthcoming against those who screwed up

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 2, 2012 1:40 PM CST

(Newser) – Eric Holder angrily denied that the Justice Department was trying to hide anything about the botched "Operation Fast and Furious" program in his testimony before Congress today—and insisted that he'd had no knowledge of the gun-tracking operation. "There's no attempt at any kind of coverup," the attorney general said, pointing out that the department had turned over thousands of documents and intended to turn over more. "This has become political, I get that," he added, according to Fox News.

"Not only did I not authorize those tactics, when I found out about them, I told the field … that those tactics had to stop," he said. (The idea was to track weapons as they made their way to cartels, but authorities lost track of many.) Holder added that those responsible would likely be fired or charged with crimes within six months, once an internal investigation is finished. "I can assure you those people will be removed from federal service," he said, according to CNN. But Republicans weren't satisfied, saying he was still withholding documents, and Darrell Issa threatened to do whatever necessary to obtain them. Issa has previously threatened to charge Holder with contempt of Congress.

Eric Holder testifies during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing.
Eric Holder testifies during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing.   (Getty Images)
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A few brief highlights from Eric Holder's hearing.   (CNN)

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The conclusion that I come to is there are some things in there that's being hidden ... And you're saying, well, the separation of powers prohibits you from (delivering them). That's baloney. - Rep. Dan Burton, on the 93,000 documents he says Holder has withheld

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 31 comments
Riffran
Feb 3, 2012 6:08 AM CST
if he wasn't aware he is grossly incompetent and should be fired.  If he was he lied and should be fired AND jailed for perjury  
acerbus80
Feb 2, 2012 8:29 PM CST
Holder added that those responsible would likely be fired or charged with crimes within six months, once an internal investigation is finished. Really?  Then why have at least three people from the program been promoted? Fast and Furious was nothing more than a backhanded attempt by the Obama administration to escalate the border violence to get ammo for anti gun legislation.
SilenceDogood
Feb 2, 2012 7:19 PM CST
This reminds me of Nixon saying "I am not a Liar" so how did that work out?
 

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