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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.