Posted on 04/20/2011 1:53:39 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
For the first time since Republicans took control of the House and gained the power of congressional subpoena, the Obama administration has declined to comply with a subpoena issued by top GOP oversight official Rep. Darrell Issa.
In the face of a subpoena by Issa, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) provided no documents by the April 13 deadline, according to an April 20 letter from Issa to ATF’s director, Kenneth Melson.
Issa is threatening contempt proceedings if ATF does not comply.
At issue are documents related to Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious, in which ATF allowed American guns to be smuggled into Mexico and sold to Mexican drug cartels. The goal of the program was to track the illegal weapons and drug markets after they were used in crimes and abandoned using ballistics information and serial numbers for the guns.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
My money says Issa caves to his leader, Boehner and doesn’ pus this issue, or theother hearings he promised if we put them in power.
Hold this POS in contempt of Congress—at once! No Republican president would be allowed to get away with this b.s. arrogance and thinking he’s above checks and balances. The media would lynch any Republican president who ignored a congressional subpoena.
I have been wondering in my primitive fundamental mind if the Lord is having some fun by setting up “Issa” (Arabic for “Jesus”) as America’s only real hope for uncovering corruption in government given the rotten nature of Holder’s Justice Dept.
Obama’s ATF should know that it is very bad form to diss Issa on Holy Week.
I don’t believe he will. He is made of stern stuff.
“This story has been criminally under-covered by the media.”
And so shall it continue to be.
You don’t know Issa very well if you think he will back off this issue...
I heard someone the other day say that Boehner is one of the MOST conservative members of the house.
I think all the republican leadership is corrupt until they now prove otherwise.
Issa will send another nice letter.
What happens if he holds him in contempt of Congress.
Thnx
From what we’ve seen so far, I’d bet you’re correct.
Looks like Obama took the whole ‘executive privilege’ precedent to heart. I wonder if we will hear “I don’t recall” a couple of hundred more times in answer to Congressional inquiries.
The only way to get Obama to cooperate is to have something to use against him. Otherwise, he will blow off Issa every time.
It gets pretty complicated. Depending on what the contempt of Congress is, Congress has a number of options available to it. It can pass a resolution condemning the contempt (just words). Or, it can pursue a civil action in court - more than words. And, if it rises to criminal contempt - like you've lied to Congress while under oath, then Congress can formally request that the AG pursue a criminal contempt case, which has happened about 10-or so times in US history, OR there's even some case law that suggests Congress can act independently of the AG, and have the Congressional Sergeants-at-Arms effect arrest on the US official. This has not been done since the 1920s or 1930s.
Usually, when the Executive Branch starts ignoring Congressional subpoenas, whispers of "Constitutional Crisis" start soon thereafter.
Threatening, but not promising. {:~)
“””Issa will send another nice letter.”””
Maybe he will get serious and send the letter with ALL CAPS!!!!
Maybe even Special D!
Obama never answers to any judge, law, or the Constitution, and McConnell Boner and the MSM are there to make sure nobody interferes with his criminality
Thnx
Congressional Democrats and the media let the Bush administration get away with stonewalling subpoenas. Congressional Republicans will grant the same professional courtesy to the Obama administration.
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