Posted on 05/04/2012 12:02:07 PM PDT by neverdem
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is preparing contempt of Congress charges against Attorney General Eric Holder for his failure to cooperate fully with the investigation into Operation Fast and Furious, the Obama Administration’s deadly gun-running program. Warnings were issued, deadlines have passed, and it’s just about “go time.”
To this end, Issa has prepared an extensive staff briefing(PDF) on the case, along with a draft of Holder’s contempt citation. A press release from the House Oversight Committee says the briefing paper “explains what happened in Operation Fast and Furious, the hardships faced by the family of fallen Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in getting truthful answers about his death, how agents who blew the whistle on the reckless operation have faced retaliation, and the carnage in Mexico that Fast and Furious has helped fuel.”
Among the lowlights of this paper are the ATF’s discovery that two of the top ostensible “targets” for the operation that pumped thousands of American guns into the hands of Mexican cartel killers were actually FBI informants; Holder’s failure to provide documents in 12 of the 22 categories set forth in House subpoenas; the stone walls thrown before Agent Terry’s family as they investigate his death; an ATF whistleblower whose career was ruined on the pretext of punishing him for downloading $8 worth of applications to his smartphone; the appearance of Fast and Furious guns at crime scenes across Mexico, including the murder of a state Attorney General’s brother; and the dismaying decision of Patrick Cunningham, criminal division chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona, to take the Fifth instead of testifying before Issa’s committee.
At 44 pages in length, Issa’s briefing paper is one of the most comprehensive summaries of the Fast and Furious scandal you can read online. Issa appeared on Fox News this morning to discuss the case against Eric Holder, noting his reluctance to “say to the Administration that we’ve come to the end.” He was very blunt about saying Holder’s Justice Department has lied to his committee.
In the middle of his appearance, the Justice Department released a statement – read to Issa while he was sitting in the studio – that said they’ve offered just about all the compliance they’re going to. The Congressman did not seem terribly surprised to hear it. Further stonewalling, he said, would be like Richard Nixon offering to release the Watergate tapes in fifty years, and the “drop dead date” for DOJ compliance with those House subpoenas is “immediately.”
Holder needs to be in prison.
How long has this fabled order been in process? I have NO faith in Congress and even less that they’ll actually sanction Holder. Even in the cosmically small chance they do man up (and do the right thing) 1) the media will brand it as political and/or refuse to report it or 2) Holder et al will simply ignore it. Until Congress mans up and sends some one down to the DOJ w/ cuffs its all just huffing and puffing, more political theater.
We can be sure that Boenher will prevent any citation from taking effect.
It appears this was all Kabuki. We grew so frustrated at FR with Issa’s inaction. It appears the schedule is set for a major scandal to blow up in Baby-Doc’s face this summer.
We should revel in the coming pleasure of the old media's attempt to turn this away from the Kenyan usurper.
Enjoy my FRiends, ENJOY!
Ping.
According to his office this morning, he is not preventing anything and is very supportive of Issa.
For what that is worth.
I would like to believe that Issa has timed this citation for exactly the point that you have made.
If Holder ignores a contempt of Congress citation, there is a Constitutional crisis...
...six months before the election.
Timing is everything.
Someone said there was an election coming up...
That is what I have been holding out for.
See post #7 from Jacquerie also.
Boehner’s support doesn’t mean much, but a lack of opposition on his part would. If we can believe him. It would be great!
"The Strike Force designation also meant that the U.S. Attorney’s Office – rather than ATF – would run Fast and Furious. At the time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona was led by Dennis Burke, a new political appointee who had previously served as Chief of Staff to then Arizona Governor and now Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Earlier in his career, Burke had worked with former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on gun control legislation as a U.S. Senate staff member."
Holder is dead political meat.
And the media will play the race card in 3...2...1...
Holder will have it framed and hang it on his office wall with all his other awards and citations.
I don’t think they’ll wait at all.
Btw, did you catch the launch of the Atlas V a little while ago?
I was thinking the same thing ... matter of fact, seems t’me a read not long ago that Holder’s already refused to co-operate no matter WHAT Issa generates.
That is so sweet to end the week.
From what you've posted here, it appears he's not alone.
The support from Boehner is tepid at best. He and Cantor have indicated that they are afraid that the contempt citation will pull the Republicans “off” their message!
Two observations for Boehner and Cantor:
1) How can you be pulled “off message” when no one in the country has a flippin’ clue what your message is? You guys have let the Democrats and the media define the argument for years, which is why your support continues to erode.
2) The Attorney General of the United States, acting in collusion with the Department of Homeland Security, and possibly with the Executive Branch, concocted a plan to force law abiding gun dealers to sell weapons to straw buyers who then took them across the border and handed them to members of drug cartels where they have been used to kill hundreds of people, including at least two members of US Law Enforcement. This is THE biggest story of the entire campaign and will awaken and enrage millions of moderate and conservative voters...If you don’t understand that, you have no business being in leadership positions!
I hope it is rope-a-dope
Dennis Burke, one of Arizona’s most prominent and well-connected Democratic political figures, abruptly resigned as the state’s top federal prosecutor Tuesday, stirring doubts about earlier expectations that he might mount a bid for governor, attorney general or U.S. senator.
Burke served in Washington as a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and in Arizona as her chief of staff when she was governor. His departure as U.S. Attorney comes as congressional investigators and an internal Justice Department inquiry are examining how an Arizona-based federal gun-trafficking investigation may have allowed as many as 2,000 guns to flow to criminals.
That won't get any traction, IMHO, this is a prelude to the impeachment of Holder rt al. just before the August recess. A trial to remove them in the Senate right after the August recess will screw up thier plans for holding the Senate, and it screws up Obama's plan for minority turn out. We're probably looking at reparations for 200 - 300 dead Mexicans!
“Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, who sits on the committee investigating Fast and Furious, has told me that he believes the responsibility for this lies at the top, in the office of Eric Holder or someplace nearby.”
“This move to dump Burke — who oversaw the operation — looks like an effort to make this mess go away.”
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/LaurieRoberts/139821
I’d like to see the Mexican government file an extradition request for Holder to stand trial in Mexico on several hundred counts of Manslaughter.
Former Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, who resigned in August, admitted late Tuesday that he leaked a document aimed at smearing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent John Dodson, an Operation Fast and Furious whistle-blower.
The memo that leaked this summer ended up being an attempt by Justice Department officials to cast aspersions on Dodson — one of the leading ATF Fast and Furious whistle-blowers. Burke admitted he leaked the memo in a Tuesday afternoon letter to Justice Department Inspector General Cynthia Schnedar.
The memo was leaked to press and had the names of criminal suspects deleted — but kept Dodson’s name on it. Attorney General Eric Holder came under fire during Tuesday morning’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing when he wouldn’t answer any questions from Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley about the leaked memo, who was held accountable for it and how they were held accountable.
It’s unclear if Burke was the only DOJ official who leaked documents to smear whistle-blowers, but Dodson thinks Burke “did not act alone.”
The message is, I think, "It doesn't matter what you want, or what we say, we'll do what we will."
The Republican party, as a whole, is pretty terrible; what stated party planks do they actually forward?
Smaller government? When was the last time there was a government agency disbanded? (Merging and renaming don't count.)
Abortion? Even when we had the Executive and the Legislative, they did not do anything even a symbolic gesture.
Fiscal Responsibility? See the 'smaller government' question.
Anti-corruption? Look at how vigorously (not at all vigorous) they've investigated/prosecuted Fast and Furious.
With Romney as their pick -- just NY-23 on a national scale -- it's obvious that they don't want to listen or do what they say they will. Obama and such are at least honest when they scorn Americans for being "bitter clingers" to Bibles and guns; the Republican party though, "says all the right things" but doesn't do anything about them.
If they blow off Congress, the only alternative I can think of is impeachment.
Hi - nope. Probably will be on the evening news.
Burke of Fast and Furious had anti-gun history
Jan. 28, 2012 10:21 PM
The career path of former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke can be charted through an ascending string of jobs from Arizona’s Supreme Court to the U.S. Senate, White House, Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department.
It is a resume that spans more than two decades in three branches of government.
Then, suddenly, it nose-dives on Aug. 30, 2011, when Burke resigned as U.S. attorney amid a scandal over a gun-smuggling case known as Operation Fast and Furious.
Since that day, the gregarious public servant has gone silent, and nearly invisible, except that his name appears prominently in Justice Department documents, congressional hearings and news reports.
Burke’s political downfall may have been shocking, but an Arizona Republic analysis of his career suggests that the cause — firearm politics — has been a pet theme through most of his 23 years in government.
With Romney as their pick -- just NY-23 on a national scale -- it's obvious that they don't want to listen or do what they say they will. Obama and such are at least honest when they scorn Americans for being "bitter clingers" to Bibles and guns; the Republican party though, "says all the right things" but doesn't do anything about them.
Other than reconciliation bills, nothing gets done without 60 votes in the Senate. That's why the rats flipped Arlen Specter and contested the vote count for Al Franken repeatedly until he won.
btw, you are listed as the source (and FR)for a photo. May blog, bottom right side.
We really need to prosecute Obama and force Mooch to repay all the money she has spent on vacations. I know it will likely result in riots from the rioting class, but so be it. squish the head of this swollen pimple.
1) How can you be pulled “off message” when no one in the country has a flippin’ clue what your message is?
The message is, I think, “It doesn’t matter what you want, or what we say, we’ll do what we will.”
EXACTLY! Or even worse...”We’re the GOP leadership and we’ll do what the media tells us to do cause we don’t want to get kicked off the invite list to cool parties at Sally Quinn’s house!”
Again, I won't hold my breath for much coming of this. I'll be surprised if it goes full cycle.
Neat blog!
Thanks!
Ditto. I have no faith in this Congress doing the right thing.
But will it blow up enough to blow them out of office? If not, it will just incite sympathy from the true racist Democrats and lib-dependent voters, with the Moonbat Media’s enormous help.
At least since Janet Reno said she could not comment on, ongoing investigations, worked every time Even when she burned down the Branch Davidian's compound, and sent Elian back. Good lord people have we all been sleeping, this will accomplish nothing.
No TEA Party candidates need apply, that is the message Cantor and his crew have been sending. Boehner has now corrupted all but 4 or 5 of those that were sent there to drain that RINO swamp.
You mean like the fence GW promised then had Kay Bailey yank the funding? That kind of rope-a-dope?
Force the rats to defend the indefensible.
“According to his office this morning, he is not preventing anything and is very supportive of Issa.
For what that is worth.”
My Representative (on the committee) assured me that Boehner is on board and was mostly concerned about timing.
And after the Republican Presidential Primary elections are pretty much over so it does not distract from or damage the prospects of Republican candidates.
In order to have a clear cut case of cover up and obstruction of justice, it really helps to have documented a long term pattern of concealment, cover up, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice. Issa has had the damaging evidence against the players of Fast and Furious for a while now, they have been letting Holder and others dig their graves on the cover up and obstruction of justice charges.
All timed to play out perfectly in synch with the pace of the elections. Possibly with a Special Prosecutor appointment and/or indictments in the Fall. Holder really screwed up the time line on this case - it's better to come clean early and get bad news out sooner than later.
This is straight out of Democrat text book Scandal Management 101 and Holder learned his lessons well during the Clinton scandals so the fact that he took this course action suggests that the facts of the case are so damming that the only hope was to try to stonewall and kick the can past Jan 20 ,2013 and hope for an Obama re election and for the Democrats to re take the House and hold the Senate to kill or control any investigation.
Thanks. It's good to have names.
I wonder who is going to be the John Dean of F&F, the highest-ranking flipper?
Eric Holder is a Traitor and needs to go to a Federal Prison.
Go! Darrel Issa!!!
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