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Exclusive: Alberto Gonzales Defends Eric Holder

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    Attorney general finds unlikely ally

  • Duration 5:51
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FBI director Robert Mueller facing questions today on Capitol Hill regarding the botched fast and furious operation.

Which allow thousands of weapons from here.

In the United States to wind up in the hands of some bad guys got to Mexico.

Well they're denying that the FBI was involved in any sort of cover up and shooting down claims that a third fast and furious gun.

Was found at the scene aboard a patrol agent Brian Terry's death.

I do and and am familiar with the a suggestion that there was a third gun at the scene there was no third weapon found at the scene there were two weapons that were found at the scene not a third.

As we reported earlier the show there are now 57 Republican congressman calling for attorney general Eric Holder to step down.

Over claims that mr.

holder knew or should have known about this investigation and did not stop it.

Mr.

holder has testified to congress four -- now he says he has no plans to step down.

Well recently I sat down with Alberto Gonzales who served as US attorney general under President Bush.

Mr.

Gonzales spoke openly about whether it is possible that Eric Holder did not know all of the facts regarding this botched -- running program whether he should have.

And if this investigation will eventually lead in his opinion to Eric Holder stepping down.

Mean information we provided to you has been responsive.

Has been I think -- and also -- an unprecedented.

Well unprecedented.

Would be an attorney general who knew nothing about something where his own day now is -- president chief of staff was intimately familiar.

Have you spoken -- President Obama about massacres.

I don't think that I have I see.

President.

It's okay if you haven't you haven't.

Have you spoken to the president of Mexico about festive periods I know you have routinely argued that you've been oblivious and dis engaged in this operation not and I buy that's a large extent.

How much -- we have we have a -- Border Patrol agent.

You know the thing is is that it if if we don't get to the bottom of this and that requires you or.

Assistance -- that there is only one alternative that congress -- And it's called impeachment.

Attorney general Eric Holder under fire for a botched federal gun running scheme linked to hundreds of crimes in Mexico and the US.

Including the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry exactly one year ago today.

Didn't mr.

holder know about operation fast and furious.

Run under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms which justice overseas.

And did he read the memos about it that -- specifically -- to him.

He says no and now an unlikely ally emerges former attorney general Alberto Gonzales who served under President Bush.

Of the attorney -- a busy man.

We got a lot of memos coming to his desk and he said even though was addressed to me some of these memos mentioning passengers -- doesn't mean I read it doesn't mean I knew about it.

Do you find that valid given your experience as the attorney general.

Absolutely.

There are.

There are multiple issues multiple memos -- flowing out to the office of the attorney general.

Every day.

Sometimes you actually don't get to see them and the fact that a memo was addressed the attorney general.

There's -- actually saw it now we all understand general holder understands I understand that -- a memo was addressed to me.

I'm tag -- knowledge of that even if I didn't see it.

But but it it is certainly the case.

That.

That there could be operations ongoing within the department -- -- like any other department any other agency within our federal government.

Where the top official.

Just simply is unaware of it not because out to -- -- but that simply because there's so many competing interest.

Democrats have stressed that fast and furious was proceeded by another gun running program called operation wide receiver that took place while mr.

Gonzales was in office.

Unlike with fast and furious Mexico cooperated.

With wide receiver.

But mr.

Gonzales claims that little memory -- and I don't remember the specifics.

Of that operation you just mentioned.

Again I'm I'm very much aware of the fact that that.

President Bush asks us to look to see what we could pave the way.

What measures could be taking working with the Mexican authorities to stop the flow of guns from United States illegally in into Mexico.

I don't and -- remember the specifics.

Bloodless operation that -- -- people are alluding to.

Mr.

Gonzales resigned after two years in office a ten year marred by controversy.

Today he's in private practice and believes he knows what mr.

-- going -- I think he -- as as I did you know you step into these jobs it's hard.

The attorney general is always involved in the most difficult the most controversial issue since it as just the way it is and if he can't stand the criticism.

You know if he can't stand the scrutiny.

Then -- and if you're afraid of making a mistake and you should be should be doing this job.

He offered this prediction on mr.

holder's future do you think that this is a situation that he can survive and that President Obama can survive politically.

If I had to gas tonight again I.

I have no -- information.

Is that he will stay for the remainder of this term.

And at during the next term if pres Obama's reelected.

We'll have a new attorney general suspected -- was popping tired so -- tired of this scrutiny tired of.

These attacks and but who knows what's gonna happen -- just don't now.

Again Eric Holder has declared that he will not resign over this investigation -- last time the president spoke to it and said.

Mr.

holder had his full confidence.

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