HOLDER IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS;
17 DEMS SUPPORT
House Votes To Hold Holder In Criminal Contempt of Congress 255-67
The U. S. House of Representatives,
after 18 months of investigation and stonewalling by the Obama Justice Department
have voted 255-67 to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in criminal contempt of
Congress. Holder becomes the first sitting attorney general to be held in
contempt.
Looks like the
Obama administration has a first for everything.
Fox News reports: The
vote was preceded by a heated floor debate.
“It’s
important to remember how we got here,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio,
said during a speech ahead of the vote. “The
Justice Department has not provided the facts and information we
requested. … It’s our constitutional duty to find out.”
The GOP-led House took the step over the
alleged failure to provide additional information about the failed gun-running
operation known as Fast and Furious which was run by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — a division of the Justice Department led by
Holder.
Democrats
walked out of the chamber ahead of the vote.
Nancy Pelosi declared, “What is happening
is shameful!” I’d say it was no more shameful than the former Communist Speaker
of the House wanting people to pass a health care bill to find out what is in
it. At least in this issue there was clear evidence
of contempt and you didn’t have to vote in order to see the contempt of Eric
Holder.
The vote was
bi-partisan as 17 Democrats voted with Republicans in favor of contempt for
Holder.
Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House
Oversight Committee tried to eliminate a vote on the floor of the House
earlier, but Holder was uncooperative. Over one thousand
more documents have been requested which Holder fails to provide.
The House proceeded
with the vote after Holder continued to show that he would be unmoved.
Lawmakers also voted against a proposal
to return the matter to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee put
forth by Rep. John dingell (D-MI).
