Posted on 05/15/2014 4:23:28 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson was openly irritated both with Attorney General Eric Holder and with the U.S. House of Representatives over whether executive privilege allows Holder to withhold documents on Operation Fast and Furious. But she also signaled she would rule against Holder in part, making it likely that Congress—and the public—could learn the truth about a gun-running scandal that ended with a murdered federal agent.
Berman began today’s hearing in Washington, D.C.’s federal district court with an opening statement about this case “concerning the suspected illegal flow of firearms from the United States to Mexican drug cartels.” She said that the “risks and flaws” of the Obama administration’s program were “tragically realized” when U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered with a firearm that the administration let flow to the cartels as part of this program.
But she emphasized that the May 15 hearing was not about those issues, and instead narrowly focused on whether President Barack Obama could assert executive privilege to protect Holder’s refusal to hand over certain documents to Congress. Those documents concerned why Holder misinformed Congress on Feb. 4, 2011, claiming that the Department of Justice (DOJ) never allowed firearms to make it into Mexico.
On Oct. 11, 2011, Congress subpoenaed all the relevant documents that would explain why Congress was misinformed, including whether the misinformation was deliberate deception.
On June 20, 2012, DOJ informed Congress that Obama asserted executive privilege over those documents, saying they would reveal the deliberative process at DOJ and threaten the constitutional balance of power. Therefore Holder would not provide them. Holder became the first sitting attorney general in American history to be held in contempt of Congress.
Berman harshly criticized both sides, saying, “Reading the briefs were somewhat distressing.” But the Obama-appointed judge was especially critical...
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
She thinks she has more power than Congress?
More spine and more balls, perhaps?
Rex “Holder” Lex.
This is the judicial variety of good cop / bad cop. The appellate court will reverse, IF the trial judge hands down the wrong ruling. Courts tend to protect executive privilege and state secret. The fact the government is lying is completely irrelevant. Notice in this case, the actual events are irrelevant. The legal issue is only on privilege.
.........uh, true, I’m just an ordinary ole Joe, but I can tell you that I know from 3 days in jail that violating a judges order can have SWIFT consequences. For yours and other Freepers convenience, please note below the asterisk line what Senator Grassley had to say.
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.....I still contend that the House of Representatives needs to exercise their right to find Eric Holder guilty of ‘inherent contempt.’ By so doing, they would bypass the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C. They would have the right to issue punishment commensurate to the charges which would include sending him to jail. The last time the House used the inherent contempt charge was in 1934 in which they sent William P. MacCracken Jr. to jail for 10 days. The actions were upheld by a federal judge who deemed it was within the powers of the House under an inherent contempt charge.
Under an inherent contempt charge, they could set Holder’s butt down in a jail cell for a couple of months until he finally complies with the congressional subpoenas or until his boss is voted out of office and Holder is replaced with someone who will actually uphold the laws of the land. I bet you there’s a whole lot of Americans who would love to see Holder in jail until he’s unemployed.
Congress—and the public—could learn the truth
So? Does anyone actually think that this administration will even acknowledge this ruling? The have ignored every other ruling or law they didn’t like.
Well, I can dream can’t I?
Born 1954 in Baltimore, MD
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Nominated by Barack Obama on January 5, 2011, to a seat vacated by Gladys Kessler. Confirmed by the Senate on March 17, 2011, and received commission on March 18, 2011
So otherwise, calls will be made and this goes nowhere.
Sad as it is to say, nothing will happen, the GOPe will pout and that pretty much sums it up.
Yes.
The article paints a picture that is different from the headline.
I foresee a fatal accident in Judge Amy’s future.
Was/is that common practice among all newly elected POTUS's?
Frankly I do not know.
Can anyone clarify?
No, it was not common practice. And, yes, Clinton did fire all the district attorneys general around the country. That was unprecedented. And when W came into office, he left all Clinton’s appointees in place, which greatly weakened what he could do.
I think Clinton fired all of the US Attorneys. Bush fired a few and then he was excoriated in the press, which had given Clinton a pass. IIRC
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