The House Votes To Hold Eric Holder In Contempt

June 28, 2012 - Today the House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder (seen above), in contempt of Congress for the Justice Department's refusal in releasing documents related to the "Fast and Furious" gun walking operation. 

Mr. Holder has already turned over 7,600 documents and had nine congressional meetings with republicans, however this effort wasn't enough to satisfy the GOP who is apt to take Mr. Holder down at any cost.

As the voting to hold Eric Holder in contempt commenced, the Congressional Black Caucus along with the Hispanic, Asian Pacific Americans, and Progressive Caucus' filed together in one single line while protesting the republican's agenda by walking out of the room. The vote came back 255-67, with 17 democrats voting to hold AG Holder in contempt, while over one hundred democratic votes weren't counted due to the boycott. 

The NRA (National Rifle Association) suggested that the government is using the "Fast and Furious" operation to promote stricter gun control, and warned lawmakers that they'd use the contempt vote to rate them. Today's vote makes the first time in presidential history that a sitting cabinet member has been held in contempt. 

President Obama issued his first executive order per US Attorney General Holder's request, to not turn over certain subpoenaed documents which the Justice Department stated could not be released due to the ongoing criminal investigations, and handing these private documents over to the republicans would be considered breaking the law. 

Furthermore, Rep. Darrell Issa (seen above) who initiated this entire "witch hunt", insisted that his republican colleagues should still move forward in a vote to subpoena and retrieve the confidential documents.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that republicans are trying to pin the gun walking operation on Mr. Holder and the Department of Justice, in order to score political points for the presidential election. 

Why didn't Darrell Issa bring this issue up last year or the year before, if they were already knowledgeable of the situation? Republicans seeking justice for ATF Brian Terry, makes me wish they'd put just as much effort into voting for programs that benefit our veterans. 

U.S. Attorney Holder, admitted he didn't know of the "Fast and Furious" situation until 2011, and quickly put an end to the misguided tactics that caused guns to walk freely into Mexico. Eric Holder had this to say about republicans voting to hold him in contempt,

"Today's vote is the regrettable culmination of what became a misguided-- and politically motivated-- investigation during an election year," Holder said.  

"By advancing it over the past year and a half, Congressman Issa and others have focused on politics over public safety. Instead of trying to correct the problems that led to a series of flawed law enforcement operations, and instead of helping us find ways to better protect the brave law enforcement officers, like Agent Brian Terry, who keep us safe — they have led us to this unnecessary and unwarranted outcome."

Crime investigator Katherine Eban, wrote an amazing article in Fortune Magazine which gives way to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth behind the "Fast and Furious" scandal. The article suggests that republicans lied and distorted information, as a reason to target US Attorney General Holder. See entire article here

The House passed a vote of civil contempt, which can advance to federal courts. Democrats are calling for a bi-partisan investigation into the matter, which would extend back into the George W. Bush administration where the entire operation originally began. Republicans however, would rather use President Obama's mantra of moving "forward" when it concerns investigating the Bush administration. Why am I not surprised?

Republicans are making the point that they will do anything to win The White House, even if it means tarnishing the respectable reputation of a great man. The Fortune magazine investigation gives detailed reporting which proves that US Attorney Holder and the Department of Justice, indeed had nothing to do with the walking of guns or the death of ATF Brian Terry. 

The walking of guns began under George W. Bush, which at the time it was called "Operation Wide receiver". The former Bush Attorney General should be subpoenaed for further investigation purposes. 

Guns collected at crime scenes tracked back to gun shops in Arizona, which is a state with the weakest gun violence prevention laws and 853 federally licensed firearm dealers just in the city of Phoenix alone. 

Customers can legally buy as many weapons as they want in Arizona, as long as they're 18 or older and can pass a criminal background check. There are no waiting periods and no need for permits, and buyers are allowed to resell the guns. 

It seems as if the NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, is using his conspiracy of government enforcing stricter gun laws in order to upset civilians who own guns, as a way to get them on his side. But what this boils down to is Mr. LaPierre, not wanting anything to get in the way of his gun revenue, period.

2012 LA

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