AP Images
The House of Representatives made history today by holding the first ever sitting Attorney General in contempt of Congress.
The House passed the resolution by a 255-67 vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. The highly political resolution holds Holder in contempt for refusing to hand over documents related to the Fast And Furious gun walking operation.
A large group of House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, and Rep. James Clyburn, staged a walk out in protest before the vote. The vote breakdown included 17 Democrats voting in favor of the contempt citation and two Republicans voting against.
The contempt citation does not go to the Senate for passage. Instead, it goes to the US Attorney to convene a grand jury which will decide whether or not to indict Holder.
Attorney General Eric Holder issued a statement calling out political motives, saying that the vote to hold him in contempt "may make for good political theater in the minds of some, but it is - at base - both a crass effort and a grave disservice to the American people."
President Obama used executive privilege to avoid handing over Fast and Furious documents that Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darell Issa wanted to see. The White House held meetings earlier in the week with Rep. Issa and Speaker of the House John Boehner but they could not find common ground, hence the vote today.
Leave a Comment:
Cab Driver...what happened to your claim last week that this was a 1&1/2 day news cycle thing only? Guess the Democrat Party leadership tried the Wisconsin legislators tactics on the walk out, little good they got out of that. History records only 67 votes for the beleagured Attorney General, and that hurts when this gets to the courts, where it eventually is headed.
One more raason for the Tea Partying to start again!
I am having trouble coming up with new names for these former respectable legislative branches. I too am used to solving problems.
United States Congress
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Name Change???
United States Corrupt Chambers of Contempt
United States House of Perpetual Contempt
United States Senate Super Pac Contempt
Suggestions Invited?
Note: The Supreme Court rujed Stolen Valor is OK now so there are no lower limits.
I want a case of slander and malice filed by the Administration on behalf of ‘The Position’ of U.S. Attorney General. Against the Speaker of the House, and Congressional leaders who led and approved this investigation, and those in the Court system, on the grounds that these leaders have publicly rebuked the Executive Powers of the U.S. Presidency to block Subpoena’s.
I want those in the Court system who led this investigation impeached for not recognizing the Law and Government Protocol of these United States.
I hope to see the same separate personal suit of malice and slander filed by U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, his self. After all, maybe a personal court case could give Attorney General Holder an opportunity to get some information out about the personal doings of the very gun industry that pushed this contempt of court charge on him.
The contempt charge by certain Republican Party leaders appears to attempt to belittle the President and the U.S, Attorney General in an election year, even if the charges will most likely, be later, dropped.
Something tells me the gun industries stun gun stories surrounding this, is full of holes.
I agree. Is there anything a mere citizen can do? This whole situation is angering.
Appearanes are deceiving. The reality is that Holder was thumbing his nose at the duty of Congress to provide oversight, and the President backed him up in doing this with a spurious executive privalege claim to give him cover for a while longer. When this goes to a civil court, a judge will order Discovery processes, and Holder will have deliver the goods!
omitted
If this operation/scandal is not what the Republicans are claiming it to be, why not produce the documents to show that & put the egg on the Republicans faces? Or is there a different scandal here, specifically involving the Justice Dept under Holder? The Fortune article with it's explanation of what went on, seems to suggest the the Federal prosecutors did not file charges as requested by the ATF agents for the guns purchased by straw buyers, which guns eventually were used in crimes in Mexico & the US, including the killing of a US agent. There may have been good & valid reasons not to prosecute the straw buyers and if so, produce the documents & the basis for the inaction. The family of the dead agent deserves the explanation, at the very least.
It is a shame that after a two BS wars so many "American People" are STILL so easily fooled by Right wing propaganda. They might as well side with Baghdad Betty! Glad to see one branch is not so corrupt with the hatred of "Americans of another color." Thank You "Chief Justice" for seeing where this type of injustice would lead us if you had sided with ignorance!
Another race card played! Eventualyl people are going to have to stand on their own two feet and answer to the character and behavior flaws as they reveal themselves! I suppose if Charlie Wrangel doesn't survive his squeaker of a primary battle to run again for the office he so disgraced, that you'll be crying "race is behind that" too, Rex?
Boner you and the rest of the fools in Congress were not looking for common ground. If it was a Republican AG in office and it was told to you certain information could not be given you would have accepted that without a blink of an eye. Look at you cohorts when Jamie Dimon came to town. They all but kissed his a$$ telling the man he was no I mean is the greatest thing since slice bread. You had your speech ready for the Court decision when you said there would be no spiking of the ball. So as I said you were not looking for common ground. You thought this is something you and the fools of Congress needed to do since something did not go the way you expected. You have gotten everything your way for so long you thought this is one more thing as a given.
Gladys...if you haven't noticed the House Republicans have been stymied by the Senated Democrats on every thing that they have tried to pass in legislation since Jan 2011 after the overwhelming Rebulican victory that brought them to control of the House of Representatives. So I don't know where you get off with that "you've had everything your own way for so long now" remark.