Posted on 11/04/2014 1:13:19 PM PST by smoothsailing
November 4, 2014
After years of legal battles between the House Oversight Committee and Attorney General Eric Holder, 64,280 redacted Operation Fast and Furious documents held under President Obama's assertion of executive privilege since 2012, have been turned over by the Department of Justice after an order from U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson. The Justice Department was originally ordered to turn over a list of documents, better known as a Vaughn Index, with explanations as to why documents fall under executive privilege claims by November 1.
“When Eric Holder wants to know why he was the first Attorney General held in criminal contempt of Congress, he can read the judge’s order that compelled the production of 64,280 pages that he and President Obama illegitimately and illegally withheld from Congress. Since these pages still do not represent the entire universe of the documents the House of Representatives is seeking related to the Justice Department’s cover-up of the botched gun-walking scandal that contributed to the death of a Border Patrol agent, our court case will continue," Chairman Darrell Issa said in a statement. "I am deeply concerned that some redactions to these documents may still be inappropriate and contrary to the judge’s order in the case. This production is nonetheless a victory for the legislative branch, a victory for transparency, and a victory for efforts to check Executive Branch power. As the production is extensive and may contain sensitive information, our investigative staff will be carefully examining the documents turned over last night.”
These documents being turned over is long awaited confirmation from both DOJ and the White House that officials withheld 64,280 that do not fall under President Obama's executive privilege claims.
"The President and the Attorney General attempted to extend the scope of the Executive Privilege well beyond its historical boundaries to avoid disclosing documents that embarrass or otherwise implicate senior Obama Administration officials," an Oversight Committee release states. "In effect, last night’s production is an admission that the Justice Department never had legitimate grounds to withhold these documents in the first place. Approximately two-thirds of the universe of documents that the Justice Department withheld from Congress has now been shown to be well outside the scope of Executive Privilege."
Although tens of thousands of documents have been released to lawmakers on the Oversight Committee, there are still a number of existing Fast and Furious documents being withheld from Congress and the American people.
"If the Department identifies additional material that is appropriate for release, we will work with you to arrange for a supplemental productions. Likewise, the Department reserves the right to seek the return of any privileged material that may have been inadvertently disclosed," DOJ Assistant Director John Tyler wrote in a cover letter attached to the documents and submitted to Congress.
The legal battle between DOJ and the House Oversight Committee is ongoing. Attorney General Holder announced his resignation in September, but will not leave office until a replacement is confirmed after the midterm elections.
Scrubbed?
No doubt. Why else would these suddenly be let loose?
“hat he and President Obama illegitimately and illegally withheld from Congress.”
Action you fraud. Not more words.
or we can wait till the phone rings .... The lame-stream always says America is wrong!!!
I have no doubt that they redacted many of the documents to protect the guilty.
Good gosh and golly, on election day, no less. Of course if you cynically think they waited to make sure the docs wouldn’t have any impact on the election, you’re obviously one of those neanderthal tea-baggers.
Live and Let Live! But destroy them!!!
I knew you could...
Well, if anything, now that the election is ending we might learn about Benghazi and definitely hear the verdict on Bergdahl.
Just trying to distract newsrooms from talking about the election results.
They do nothing that is not politically motivated - ever!
All redacted.
How about 99% redacted.
flawless execution EPU
Waited until it couldn’t affect the election in a way they didn’t like. Yup.
Awright, where are they available and who’s going to coordinate the crowdsourcing of analysis?
Now you’re talkin!!!
Katie Pavlich is going to love this.
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