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House Finds Holder in Contempt: 17 Democrats and 2 Republicans break with their parties
National Journal ^ | June 28, 2012 | 4:58 p.m. | Billy House

Posted on 06/28/2012 2:01:33 PM PDT by Hunton Peck

The Republican-controlled House on Thursday voted 255 to 67 to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, a historic and divisive election-year action that GOP leaders cast deadly serious and Democratic leaders dismiss as petty politics.

The unprecedented House censure of a sitting attorney general -- the Obama administration’s top lawyer – over Holder’s refusal to release internal documents tied to a botched gun-trafficking investigation saw both sides dig in. The White House asserted this week the documents are protected by executive privilege. Republicans pressed an emotional trump card that guns that slipped into the hands of drug cartels in the “Fast and Furious” operation have been linked to the deaths of a Border Patrol Agent, and hundreds of Mexicans, and the subpoenaed material would shed light about department actions in its aftermath.

The vote fell almost entirely along party lines, with just 17 Democratic defections and two Republican ones. Racial overtones came into play in the vote, as some Black lawmakers and others walked out, refusing to participate in the action against Holder, an African American.

The immediate impact of the House’s action – beyond any political repercussions – is almost nil. What’s likely next to happen, according Republican congressional sources, is that the lead House committee in the matter, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., will file civil suit in federal court, seeking a declaratory judgment that Holder is in contempt and an injunction ordering him to comply in turning over the documents. But that action could take years to be sorted out through any appeals process. The House also has the option of referring the matter to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for prosecution of Holder in federal court, but Republicans know the department would probably refuse to charge its own leader.

Along with the contempt resolution, the House voted Thursday to authorize the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to initiate some legal action.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2deadfeds; 300deadmexicans; atf; banglist; brianterry; dea; dhs; doj; fastandfurious; fbi; gunrunner; gunwalker; holder; holderincontempt; holderisincontempt; ice; jaimezapata; murdergate; obama; terry; zapata
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1 posted on 06/28/2012 2:01:36 PM PDT by Hunton Peck
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To: Hunton Peck

Who were the two spineless Pubbies who defected?


2 posted on 06/28/2012 2:04:39 PM PDT by DarthVader (Politicians govern out of self interest, Statesmen govern for a Vision greater than themselves)
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To: Hunton Peck

Now impeach and arrest him. He responsible for the murders of hundreds both Mexican and American citizens. The gesture is meaningless unless they are willing to follow through.


3 posted on 06/28/2012 2:05:16 PM PDT by formosa (Formosa)
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To: Hunton Peck
Republicans pressed an emotional trump card

Nope, no bias here.

ome Black lawmakers and others walked out

Love to see some names...

4 posted on 06/28/2012 2:06:08 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc... not just pretty words...)
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To: DarthVader

Looks like at least a hundred gutless cowards couldn’t even be bothered to vote.


5 posted on 06/28/2012 2:06:35 PM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: Hunton Peck
Two Republicans defected?

Snow and Collins?

6 posted on 06/28/2012 2:06:43 PM PDT by Rudder
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Hunton Peck

GOP Members that voted againt the Contmpt resolution:
LaTourette
Rigell

Democrats that voted for the resolution:
Altmire
Barrow
Boren
Boswell
Chandler
Critz
Donnelly (IN)
Hochul
Kind
Kissell
Matheson
McIntyre
Owens
Peterson
Rahall
Ross (AR)
Walz (MN)


8 posted on 06/28/2012 2:07:25 PM PDT by kidd
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To: formosa

This means nothing. Big deal.


9 posted on 06/28/2012 2:07:25 PM PDT by No Socialist
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To: Rudder

It is the house not the senate.


10 posted on 06/28/2012 2:08:18 PM PDT by Sybeck1 (John Roberts is the Anti Christ)
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To: Hunton Peck
Well this is wonderful news, now that Holder has been found in contempt, the Kenyan Generalissimo can just issue a pardon for "any and all offenses which may have been committed by Reich Minister for InJustice Erich von Holder"

'Stroke of the pen, law of the land'
~ Paul 'The Forehead' Begala

11 posted on 06/28/2012 2:09:22 PM PDT by mkjessup (Finley Peter Dunne- "Politics ain't beanbag")
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To: Hunton Peck

Did those who walked out vote before they left vote. OR, did they leave so they wouldn’t have to vote to support the illegal actions of 0 and WithHolder?


12 posted on 06/28/2012 2:09:41 PM PDT by hoosiermama ( Obama: " born in Kenya.".. he's lying now or then?)
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To: Rudder

Uh, this was not the Senate Select Committee on unctuous contempt.


13 posted on 06/28/2012 2:09:52 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: DarthVader
Who were the two spineless Pubbies who defected?

The two Republican "no" votes were Reps. Steve LaTourette (Ohio) and Scott Rigell (Va.).

14 posted on 06/28/2012 2:10:04 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc... not just pretty words...)
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To: Hunton Peck

17 Democrats! That makes it bipartisan.


15 posted on 06/28/2012 2:11:14 PM PDT by running_dog_lackey
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To: Hunton Peck

Well he is contemptuous. However, after all the huffing and puffing so what! What will be done? This administration will thumb their nose at the House action and will probably draw political benefit from the holding.


16 posted on 06/28/2012 2:11:14 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: DarthVader

Who were the two spineless Pubbies who defected?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll441.xml

If I’m reading this right:

LaTourette
Rigell

I don’t know their districts yet


17 posted on 06/28/2012 2:11:32 PM PDT by Eccl 10:2
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To: Hunton Peck
So over 100 Dems didn't even vote?

Looks like they're afraid of their seats and don't know which way the wind will be blowing come Nov.

Pretty interesting that so many weren't willing to stand up for Holder.

18 posted on 06/28/2012 2:12:22 PM PDT by what's up
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To: No Socialist
This means nothing. Big deal.

It will go on his....... PERMANENT RECORD !!!

19 posted on 06/28/2012 2:12:22 PM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Hunton Peck

Bipartisan contempt!


20 posted on 06/28/2012 2:12:32 PM PDT by Martin Tell (ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it)
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