To: FJB who wrote (134979 ) 6/11/2012 11:39:02 AM From: FJB 3 Recommendations Respond to House moving to hold Holder in contempt washingtontimes.com The House of Representatives is moving forward with proceedings to hold Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in contempt of Congress — a major escalation in the separation-of-powers battle over “Fast and Furious,” the Obama administration ’s botched gun-walking operation.Rep. Darrell E. Issa , California Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee , said his panel will take up the contempt issue next week, and the move has the blessing of House Speaker John A. Boehner , Ohio Republican.“The Justice Department is out of excuses,” Mr. Boehner said in a statement Monday morning. “Either the Justice Department turns over the information requested, or Congress will have no choice but to move forward with holding the Attorney General in contempt for obstructing an ongoing investigation.” Mr. Holder and President Obama have acknowledged the operation — which allowed guns to be sold to straw purchasers in the U.S. with the knowledge they were being sent across the border to Mexican cartels — was wrong. But they said the operation was handled entirely by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives employees, with little oversight at the Justice Department .Mr. Issa , though, is investigating who in the Justice Department knew of the operation’s tactics. He has obtained sealed affidavits supporting wiretaps that he says indicate top Justice officials knew the tactics.Mr. Issa said Monday that the Justice Department still is withholding information in violation of that.Justice Department has refused to turn over critical documents on the grounds that they show internal Department deliberations and were created after February 4, 2011 — the date Justice issued a false denial to Congress . Contempt will focus on the failure to provide these post February 4th documents,” Mr. Issa said.Mr. Issa said the Justice Department hasn’t asserted any valid reasons to withhold information.Mr. Holder told another House panel he would be willing to sit down with Mr. Boehner , Mr. Issa and other House Republican leaders to try to work out a solution.Obama administration has faced contempt of Congress proceedings.Karl Rove in 2008, seeking an interview with him on his role in the firing of U.S. attorneys. Mr. Rove refused an on-the-record sworn interview with congressional investigators.
