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Inside the contempt case against Holder

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    Will the contempt charges against the attorney general in 'Fast and Furious' stand?

  • Duration 5:59
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Town house Republicans turning up the heat -- attorney general Eric Holder and today Orszag and Government Reform Committee chaired -- crisis sending out -- 64 page draft contempt order against attorney general.

The -- because his -- and over operation fast and furious.

Inexcusable -- inexcusable but that's only part of it and tonight.

The Justice Department already firing back deputy attorney general James -- write a letter to congressman ice -- -- in part.

The committee in our view has not taken sufficient steps to define the categories of documents it deems essential to -- view a fast and furious.

And his decision to issue -- draft contempt citation appears to express a preference for confrontation.

Over resolution.

So how close is attorney general holder to be held in contempt -- Dan Burton sending oversight committee thinks that's good evening send.

So I have to say yes 64 page draft from the from my -- I say I'm curious.

How close.

Is -- actually having contempt -- the attorney general.

I think -- says if you Darryl could reach some kind of and it kind of agreement or understanding with.

The attorney general I think he would hold off that he's been waiting and waiting and waiting we've asked for 22.

Reports dealing with -- fast and furious.

I think we received twelve of them and those are only part partially.

Complete and so -- I think Carol's been very very patient he's done everything possible to have to work with the -- Justice Department that says they're not compliant.

Our -- Justice Department James Cole says that there is whether not compliant and is.

This with this in letter is because there's an ongoing criminal investigation and they don't want to have jeopardized investigation.

By a surrender any documents to you until it's over.

-- -- Well I laugh because when I was chairman and government reform and oversight and the attorney general's end of the assistant to Janet Reno we had the same problem getting documents so it's it's it's a constant.

The response stitching yet.

The fact of the matter is the Z in the committee wants to make sure that they don't do anything to jeopardize a criminal investigation that at the same time.

The Justice Department said one thing and -- ten months later said another and Darrell ice as I said enforcement very patient is chairman.

And I think that we want to get to the bottom of this because we were seeing.

Thousands of weapons AK forty sevens and other things going across the border one killed in a border -- and American border agent and it's -- a lot of other people down in Mexico.

And we need to find out why this program started in the first place who started why they started.

And we've even had some of the -- like mr.

-- a nation.

Who had testified and -- he was intimidated by the Justice Department a short time later.

Over a minor infraction.

And their drive and increasing over there because he was a whistle -- Well -- in terms of then denied that they bet the when this first broke.

They denied everything and then and about ten months later he sent congress a new letter -- books previously written denial what sent essentially in there.

I'm curious is there any vehicle in congress where you could review the documents that they say is part of criminal investigation reveal them privately in the core of a content camera could -- could you do that under seal of some sort so that there could be some sort of way that you could actually see the documents and not risk the Jim Press investigative.

We we did that before when I was chairman.

We forward to Ford building which was on -- -- that we used.

And we had our legal staff and a few members go there and go to documents -- very sensitive and I think -- understands that he's willing to go that extra mile.

But to keep us from getting those documents to keep the committee in our legal staff from getting them.

To Stonewall us like they have for ten months and then.

-- at the beginning and I think they didn't mislead us yeah it was -- actually if they -- on on how I'm sure what sort of misses think they misled us on purpose letter live.

Lied okay and then and then I'm not afraid to use that term and then ten months later come -- say oops you know we've we've made.

I must animate and -- that is this big fuss about his doctors but seems to me and they're really important questions.

Who authorized -- -- -- the highest first of authorized it who's the highest person who knew about it.

And -- are those two people still working in government because the government and -- humans and an even even in this letter today from.

They admit that it was quote I flawed.

Or some anchor of in -- day -- -- it appropriate tactics is the way they say we as a really bad investigation bad idea.

And I wonder if the people who are who made the bad decisions or -- or -- -- -- are still working in government itself.

I would think just take those as it would be easy to get.

Timing was an attorney general himself personally what is it -- put the question right Tim did you -- -- -- -- is that the question SC -- says yes or no.

Well -- -- -- -- and making overtures to the attorney general I'm not chairman any longer but the fact of the matter is I have a history that goes back a long way with the current attorney general.

And he misled our our committee on two separate occasions I believe what had an and I think this is well one of the modus operandi of this -- I don't I think that he I think that he is not answering the question this time I will say I also have experienced attorney general holder when he was a judge him very well respected judge -- have a different space -- you do that you do with a minute I mean I had nothing version however I do think he should answer those questions can now you know who authorized it and who knew about how high I think you're absolutely correct and I think he should do that.

And if he would move in that direction.

I'm confident that -- would not push forward with a contempt citation.

Is speaker Boehner on board in the event that those documents are not surrendered and catch the guys who wants to go for a speaker Boehner he say yes let's go ahead.

We're in a political year I think sent to the speaker and the majority leader would rather that this wouldn't be on the front burner but I think they will give their assent.

Yes the Justice Department -- -- does not comply to say yes.

Yeah I think -- yeah.

OK the S and -- -- -- -- thank you sir thank you very much.

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