Free Republic

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...

The 256-67 vote amounted to a political spanking for Mr. Holder and President Obama, and 17 Democrats joined with Republicans in demanding the documents be released. Most Democrats, however, walked out in protest of the vote. It marks the first time an attorney general has been held in contempt by a chamber. But the White House dismissed the proceedings as a sideshow, and the vote does nothing to break the impasse, though it further poisoned feelings in an already bitterly divided chamber. “No Justice Department is above the law, and no Justice Department is above the Constitution,” said House Speaker...

In 255-67 vote, House places Holder in contempt of Congress By Jordy Yager and Pete Kasperowicz - 06/28/12 04:37 PM ET The House voted Thursday to place Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for not complying with a congressional subpoena. Seventeen Democrats bucked party lines and voted with Republicans to pass a criminal contempt resolution in a 255-67 vote. House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) pushed that resolution as part of his 16-month investigation into a botched Fast and Furious gun-tracking operation. Only two Republicans voted no on the measure, while 65 Democrats recorded...