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Obama Invokes Executive Privilege, Bails Out Holder

Darrell Issa pushes forward with contempt hearing anyway

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 20, 2012 9:25 AM CDT | Updated Jun 20, 2012 1:38 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama invoked executive privilege to justify withholding certain documents related to the Fast and Furious scandal from Congress, just minutes before the House Oversight Committee was set to hold a contempt hearing against Attorney General Eric Holder. But the committee pressed ahead with the contempt hearing anyway, Fox News reports. "This untimely assertion by the Justice Department falls short of any reason to delay today's proceedings," Chairman Darrell Issa said.

Holder sent a letter to Obama this morning formally requesting that he invoke the privilege. Democrats condemned Issa for pressing ahead—one New York rep said she was "horrified" by the "political witch hunt"—while Republicans stood by him. John Boehner said the move implied the White House was in on the Fast and Furious "cover-up," despite previous assertions that it was the Justice Department's show. "Were they lying, or are they now bending the law to hide the truth?" a spokesman asked, according to Politico.

Attorney General Eric holder speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
Attorney General Eric holder speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks to reporters following his meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks to reporters following his meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder on Capitol Hill Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 205 comments
Hambone4x
Jun 21, 2012 3:52 AM CDT
 The first known ATF "gunwalking" operation to Mexican drug cartels, named Operation Wide Receiver, began in early 2006 and ran into late 2007. Licensed dealer Mike Detty informed the ATF of a suspicious gun purchase that took place in February 2006 in Tucson, Arizona. In March he was hired as a confidential informant working with the ATF's Tucson office, part of their Phoenix, Arizona field division.[23] With the use of surveillance equipment, ATF agents monitored additional sales by Detty to straw purchasers. With assurance from ATF "that Mexican officials would be conducting surveillance or interdictions when guns got to the other side of the border",[24] Detty would sell a total of about 450 guns during the operation.[22] These included AR-15s, semi-automatic AK-pattern rifles, and Colt .38s. The vast majority of the guns were eventually lost as they moved into Mexico.[7][23][25] At the time, under the Bush administration Department of Justice (DOJ), no arrests or indictments were made. After President Barack Obama took office in 2009, the DOJ reviewed Wide Receiver in September 2009[26] and found that guns had been allowed into the hands of suspected gun traffickers. Indictments began in 2010, over three years after Wide Receiver concluded. As of October 4, 2011, nine people had been charged with making false statements in acquisition of firearms and illicit transfer, shipment or delivery of firearms.[18] As of November, charges against one defendant had been dropped; five of them had pled guilty, and one had been sentenced to one year and one day in prison. Two of them remained fugitives.[23] Another, smaller probe occurred in 2007 under the same ATF Phoenix field division. It began when the ATF identified Mexican suspects who bought weapons from a Phoenix gun shop over a span of several months. The probe ultimately involved over 200 guns, a dozen of which were lost in Mexico. On September 27, 2007, ATF agents saw the original suspects buying weapons at the same store and followed them toward the Mexican border. The ATF informed the Mexican government when the suspects successfully crossed the border, but Mexican law enforcement were unable to track them.[4][10]
LarryG
Jun 20, 2012 9:39 PM CDT
Fast and Furious was started by the Bush Administration,,,Holder ended it,,,,,so why hasnt not one person from the Bush Admin involved with this been called to testify?? simply a political witchhunt by Issa and friends.
Sterling_Archer
Jun 20, 2012 4:56 PM CDT
Yes.  Yes the President is being a hypocrite.  No amount of dismissing this as a political witch hunt, trivializing the investigation, or spinning is going to change the fact that the President is being a hypocrite.
 

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