ABC News reports a House committee voted Wednesday along party lines to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for failing to provide documents to congressional investigators from the "Fast and Furious" gun walking operation. All 23 Republicans on the committee voted for finding Holder in contempt, and all 17 Democrats voted against the resolution.
The full House voted on the contempt charges last week.
The House voted to hold Holder in contempt, while Democrats led by the Congressional Black Caucus walked out f the proceedings. It was only the fifth time since 1980 that the House had taken such a step against a current or former administration official, but never before had this action been taken against a cabinet member.
After the vote, Holder called the vote a “divisive action” that “does nothing to make any of our law enforcement agents safer.”
Holder, in a statement, called the vote "extraordinary, unprecedented and entirely unnecessary" and said it was designed "to provoke an avoidable conflict between Congress and the executive branch."
“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,” Holder said.
The news stories tended to fan the flames against Holder and attempt to link President Obama to a well orchestraed "scandal" implying that Obama was covering up White House involvement in Fast and Furious, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives surveillance operation that lost track of guns that ultimately were used in crimes on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. It's amazing what news sources do to tantalize the public, to raise ratings, and to pick and choose among salient facts. There is even conspiracy theories propagated by NRA leadership and Congressional Republicans proposing a "White House scheme" to be used in an Obama second presidential term to abridge second amendment rights.
No one mentions the fact that this program originated under the Bush Administration in 2002. No one sees the needs to question any Bush Administration officials about the program. Now that the president has asserted executive privilege for the first time since taking office, Republicans are shouting loudly about "guilt" encompassing the White House. I wonder why we can't get action on increasing jobs and reducing unemployment with the speed at which this issue was propelled forward.
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| Katherine Eban |
Fortune investigative reporter Katherine Eban presented a well documented article which clearly refutes the allegations against Atty. General Holder. But, Republicans say don't confuse me with the facts.
Listen carefully to this story and don't be mislead by the political theatre that is playing out in Congress and through Republican sources throughout the Congress. Something sinister and dark from two Black men, even though one is head of the country and one heads the Justice Dept. After all, what else could you expect from two Black men. Looks like a lynching attempt to me. Stop the madness!
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