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House Panel Cites Holder for Contempt

Measure now moves to full House, probably next week

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 20, 2012 3:52 PM CDT

(Newser) – Darrell Issa's House panel has voted along party lines to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt, reports Politico. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee acted after Holder refused to comply with a subpoena to hand over documents related to Fast and Furious, the gun-surveillance program that went awry among the cartels of Mexico. President Obama invoked executive privilege over some of the documents earlier today, but that wasn't enough to deter the vote. The measure will probably reach the floor of the House next week.

  • Holder: The move is a "divisive action," he said. "It's an election-year tactic intended to distract attention—and, as a result—has deflected critical resources from fulfilling what remains my top priority at the Department of Justice: protecting the American people."
  • Issa: “Our purpose has never been to hold the attorney general in contempt. Our purpose has always been to get the information the committee needs to complete its work—that it is not only entitled to, but obligated to do.”

Attorney General Eric Holder talks to reporters Tuesday.
Attorney General Eric Holder talks to reporters Tuesday.   (Getty Images)
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., right, considers whether to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., right, considers whether to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder answers questions earlier this month on Capitol Hill.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder answers questions earlier this month on Capitol Hill.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 94 comments
Buckshot
Jun 21, 2012 7:23 AM CDT
Issa is way off base and over reaching it's a matter of the boy who cried Wolfe and there was no Wolfe. He should be worried about the view the American people have of the Conservatives in the house and Senate their approval ratings is at a disgustingly low level. Issa is heading a witch hunt and ignoring the fact this whole operation was started by the Bush administration, he isn't looking for the truth he's using his committee as a election year political tool when in fact the only TOOL we see is Darrell Issa. BWHAhahahahahahhahahahaha
anothernewsjunkie
Jun 21, 2012 6:56 AM CDT
witch hunts are always so lovely
Hambone4x
Jun 21, 2012 3:49 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]
 

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