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.
Who were the two spineless Pubbies who defected?
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.
Nope, no bias here.
ome Black lawmakers and others walked out
Love to see some names...
Looks like at least a hundred gutless cowards couldn’t even be bothered to vote.
Snow and Collins?
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)
This means nothing. Big deal.
It is the house not the senate.
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?
Uh, this was not the Senate Select Committee on unctuous contempt.
The two Republican "no" votes were Reps. Steve LaTourette (Ohio) and Scott Rigell (Va.).
17 Democrats! That makes it bipartisan.
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.
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
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.
It will go on his....... PERMANENT RECORD !!!
Bipartisan contempt!
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