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.
where was Jesse Jackson , jr?
It's a symbolic gesture, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Big damned deal. What will happen to him because of this? They could have voted him in double, secret, super duper contempt and the world keeps turning and Holder just thumbs his nose and says “Kiss my contemptible ass, bitches. I got to go make sure Arizona ain’t violating the rights of my brown brothers. Later crackers.”
BINGO! The vast majority of the country won't even know it happened.
I think he literally is a bastard. That being said the contempt holding has no real effect beyond expressing congressional frustration.
Unless these two have a real good explaination they need to meet the Tea Party and find another line of work in November.
Snowe and Collins are Senators not in the House
“Ya team”
Most importantly to the Aministration, the documents are not released and the Republicans can be shown the mere racists going after a poor downtrodden black man. Ain’t it great.
Black congressional members walk out on vote. I see they have come a long way in their thinking since MLK!
And of course, nothing will happen to him. He won’t be arrested, he will continue in office.
Screw that crap.
Extradite his ass to Mexico and let them deal with him.
Snow and Collins?
Um, they're Senators. This was a House vote.
I'm glad to see this vote, but don't expect anything to happen. Holder's going nowhere unless Obama kicks him out.
They stated it was a criminal charge against the United States.
.......so now what happens?
Thanks for the much-needed LOL! :-)
Hey I’d love nothing more than to see his evil a## in a Mexican prison, but we both know that will not happen. You know his human rights and all. There is no justice in Amerika.
Absolutely nothing.
Do I detect a bias here, or you just needed more words to fill a column inch? Nah.
The Republic is in trouble folks. Our future is uncertain. We may be entering the twilight.
5.56mm
But YES, you are both correct.
Stone me.
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