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Will Holder be held in contempt of Congress?

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    Rep. Lamar Smith weighs in on hearings

  • Duration 5:36
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-- know -- other than ATF officials in Arizona you're saying -- about.

The tactics used in operation passing period before December 15 2010 is that right.

I think that in terms of knowledge of the tactics as opposed to the operation itself I don't think that anybody in Washington about those tactics.

But that's more -- stage which featuring general Eric Holder and house Republicans over fast and furious many -- your screen.

The chair the House Judiciary Committee congressman Lamar Smith joins us now sitting out.

Of the hearings to talk to -- little bit about what's gone so far congressman nice to have you.

Junior good to be with -- and thanks for the interest this is the eighth time that the attorney general has appeared on Capitol Hill to answer questions about fast and furious.

Up until this morning.

You and others have not been satisfied with the information he's provided thus far how close are you are do you think we are at this point.

Just citing attorney general holder for contempt of congress.

Well you're right I think all of us are disappointed that the administration is not more forthcoming and frankly I think they're disregarding the constitution.

And the rule of law in not giving us the entries that we seek.

In this case we heard a lot of I don't know -- I'll get back to you and it just seems to need to be.

Almost incredible.

That the attorney general of the United States would not know more about a program where United States officials.

Made weapons made firearms available 16100 -- available to drug cartels in Mexico.

And there doesn't seem to be any.

Follow up to that there doesn't seem to be any concern.

They're going to the highest levels about that we still don't know who authorized that program so we have almost as many questions now as we did.

We started so congressman I would much -- been reporting on the story friends since it is his first broke and he told us at the beginning at this hour that would teach wit which he's hearing right now.

Is that air -- there will be cited for contempt of congress in early July or not at all.

What do you grounds that it happened.

That is it that is a Republican leadership decision.

And I think it will depend a lot as to how cooperative how Crawford -- the attorney general is in the next that we could to.

Whether he's forthcoming with information.

And his candid and is honest in his responses so I don't know whether that decision has been made yet I think -- -- Really hinge on what the attorney general says is coming days.

Do you expect to change.

I don't know what the attorney general is going to do we've been encouraging to give us information we want some of the information gives us just isn't credible.

I also have concerns about the administration picking and choosing which laws to enforce.

And realize that's another subject that this is an administration that picks and choose which immigration laws to enforce.

The defense of marriage act passed overwhelmingly in the house and the senate was signed by then President Clinton and this administration has refused to enforce it.

Regardless of how you feel about the substance of that bill or the immigration bills the administration is sworn to uphold -- laws -- they were green with them or not.

And we haven't gotten the proper responses from the AT and -- that's what you.

-- stand fast and furious now for a moment because -- Department of Justice has said that they have supplied you with more than 7600.

Pieces of paper and documents regarding this case.

Just because of the amount and that.

Are you completely confident and that would be answers that you're looking for a not within those pages and how many words you really need at this point.

To get the answers that you want right.

That's not how many pages that the AG or any other agency gives us it's what's in those pages and whether they're responsive to what we want.

As -- say we still don't know who authorized a program we still don't know if individuals in the White House knew about it.

And then ignored it we didn't get the -- to those questions today and -- -- lettuce and dump as many papers on -- as they want to.

But if they're not providing us with the answers the American people still have a right to know what those countries are.

What happens if the answers that you're getting are in fact the truth will this entire process be a waste of time.

Well it's not credible for -- to be I don't know I'll get back to you maybe maybe not.

Not sure we think this happened those kind of interest can be double -- and schedules can be double check and witnesses can be double that.

You have a situation here where the -- attorney general will not make available to us individuals who could give us those answers.

And that some very.

Concerning punishment for trying to question there's so much going on the economy right now.

And jobs and that being a real priority for Americans.

Around this country right now why do you think this deserves -- time and such priority.

Now when our country's facing so many other issues of great importance.

-- those other issues are incredibly important economy unemployment and everything else and maybe there are more important but.

This goes to the heart of the administration if it administration engages -- obstruction.

Lack of transparency lack of content candor.

And doesn't -- the American people what they deserve to have that goes to the -- kind of administration this is when you go to that you're talking about more than just specific issue.

You're talking about whether the American people want to have another administration that more transparent more honest more -- and gives us the facts in this is not.

True of this current administration.

It has to be clear if the Republican leadership decides to -- air -- Terri in contempt of congress would you be supportive of that at this time.

When you have the Republican leadership makes that decision I'm sure there will be a lot of discussions about it -- that nice had any guy get -- -- hearings thank you very much.

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