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Uncut: House Oversight chair reflects on Attorney General Holder's latest testimony on ill-fated gun-running operation, their tense exchange and what'...
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-- -- -- -- -- -- Well -- to be back with you in a -- -- back with me and undermine our offices well so like -- had quite an aborted today did you get what you want -- the attorney general.
But I think we got the impression that we we needed to know will he cooperate with the request to the speaker.
And it was very clear he wanted to talk about cooperation well in fact clearly he did not in any any questions about new discovery.
And you know it's been since may eighteenth obviously.
The speaker have to judge now whether or not no answer in this long this long a period of time means he's not gonna answer questions that the speaker of the house leaves for legitimate -- That you -- -- -- in -- draft to hold him in contempt of congress for failure to respond to subpoenas cracked.
We view and -- makes of that factory.
Is that the speaker of the house John Boehner got involved in it in an effort to sort of persuade the Justice Department comply he asked.
For a very reduced very limited very targeted portion of all over subpoenas in hopes that that would be sufficient.
And and certainly cut it down to the minimum we would need in order to find out how congress was lied.
Two on February 4 of last year.
And and this is the problem we have is that the attorney general only wants to answer questions before February when we relied too not about the ten months in which they didn't come clean.
So it could did you get to day the answers to everything you have asked for from -- know up.
Absent that the attorney general came today get that logo on average exchange which it got hot right well I think.
We ask questions he wanted to not give straight answers and I tended to cut him off so I could get to the next one.
But I think even but -- Jason -- it's.
His answer to questions were that he had superior knowledge.
To the verbatim reading of an email that we were able to discover and this has been the problem he wants to say -- superior knowledge he knows things.
But it doesn't want -- actually provide them.
And Greta the most important thing that we had today was.
Multiple members of our committee both attorneys career attorneys and members of congress have read the -- -- were supplied to us by whistle blowers.
And reached the conclusion that if you read them you knew they knew they were -- walking.
At what point before out of it for it to -- was killed all of number 4810.
All six of them were before about well before the summer more importantly.
The attorney general didn't say he didn't see gun walking in some cover sheet.
He said I read these wiretaps and I don't I do not believe you would you would see gun walking in them.
We've read them.
I've read them.
Yes you do you see no question it all the you know that guns are going.
Being bought by specific individuals and ending up in Mexico it's conclusive in these wiretap.
Request that to process.
That he's willing to be disingenuous.
In -- sworn testimony before the congress.
Ultimately we can't make these documents public.
But our intention now is to have additional people read them.
Ones that understand there under seal they can't be released and reach independent decisions and I'm gonna bet you that if I found fifty career attorneys.
Fifty retreated fifty would be determined that it was gonna -- and -- McCain used the term the sentence it's in line yet.
-- me rephrase that.
He found his own truth and that truth is not consistent with the -- and I and I say that because that's what he kept saying throughout the day that.
You know it's not consistent with the fact but the facts are.
Fairly thick documents that relate to you.
There were leaked to us that we have now read that he never wanted us to read it he read them as -- he said he read them and he said they don't say what we believe they say which is.
Glad to justify it says you're distorting the facts.
The facts that they won't release and those -- I can't.
Review right minute because they're out there undersea you know.
And so I can't -- -- if the if the Department of Justice -- -- attorney as an attorney I could sign you on -- protective order and allow you to read them.
The problem is I can't let it happen Mike Nolan -- to reach a conclusion.
The underlying information for these wiretaps under CEOs -- -- that's correct you're -- that.
Now that's part of what they won't give us.
At the -- with it -- the wiretaps are sufficient just in reading them.
But you're right the preparation material is part of what they're withholding is any indication.
How -- -- authorization the wiretaps -- who knew about the content from the wire labor.
And and Jason wants to and that those that's the number two level under the turned him undercarriage up.
Has -- just said that he knew nothing about it -- and yes and you accept that yes he said he knew nothing about there was no reason for him to see wiretaps.
The real question is -- windy become aware of it well now today he said he should read the six wiretaps and still not aware of it.
That's where it's very troubling is that he can say he read these documents.
And he still doesn't see what it seems the rest of us do -- act you have outrageousness.
Representative take -- -- outrage.
I get this out this outstanding subpoena that's been complied with so where's the hold up -- the Justice Department attorney general complies.
Or you get it forced any subpoena provided your leadership speaker Boehner -- to -- it that we can't do it and run speaker.
A four -- contempt for.
Vote is in fact Eric Cantor and John Boehner -- decision.
We have some additional tools we're gonna continue use them we have additional witnesses we expect to bring.
My choice at this point would be to go to contempt because I think today the attorney general made it very clear.
He's not cooperate -- have you asked the speaker to go well with content.
We are in a process.
We in which I want to set a slow -- and.
-- -- -- -- -- -- Mean I definitely wasn't meant he must've said you know you've you've had come in -- of covers we've had lots of conversations and he says what.
We have agreed to a process and were continuing that process the time line for that process is really pretty much over.
So do I believe that we're in within weeks of it yes.
Do I have some additional hearings I can hold to allow at least the public to better understand.
Yes but do I believe that we should be going to contempt.
And planning it based on the fact that the attorney general clearly is not -- cooperate.
Yes act from my perspective this is good sleeper in the sense that this thing going on for a year and a half -- an awful lot of I don't know the justice I was right or you're right.
But actually -- there is no resolution -- and got the border agents and who wants answers -- that we got it is quite swiftly.
With the skin -- down South America programs within like a weaker us I know I know that can be -- So there's either and is either the Justice Roberts -- aid or the speakers -- enough money in this or even -- subpoena these people put him on the -- -- something simple enough right and because he doesn't take that long.
Not to get these answers.
We have sufficient answers to know.
That justice is not well run that there is not real accountability particularly in approving these wiretaps.
And in control in the actions of ATF and other agencies.
That we know.
But Greta -- you know knowing that there's a problem is not about fixing the problem.
We want to know enough to be able to fix the problem and I'll just give you one that's very important.
From what we can tell the approval process for wiretaps -- -- pretty darn important document.
The approval -- process seems to be broken.
Because everyone up to Jason Weinstein signs -- documents based on -- cover sheet not based on the documentation.
That the that the judge -- but based on the cover sheet summary sheet so they don't actually know what's in them they only know what it cheap it's -- -- And you look and say -- -- were relying on a summary.
The question is.
Congress didn't say you -- be accountable for a summary you're supposed to be accountable for their underlying document.
That means the system is broken from a -- standpoint this is -- the first time we've seen robo signing.
In government but you know when it happened.
The problem is it okay I'm in attendance broken minute minute we have border agent who has been murdered and we have family who wants information.
And we have we have -- a series of people who have that information and have the ability to edit it at the Justice Department which has information.
If congress that provides over sex trying to get the information from justice right.
Every time there's periods it's expensive it's time it's everything meanwhile they would have to get the information if there's somebody who is really.
Incompetent the Justice Department who is making these decisions and Justice Department admits this is a plot investigation that person could still be there making other flawed ones so the fact that this is taking so long it's rather me he really is necessary and -- It's appalling.
It's appalling it's particularly appalling because you mentioned it GSA.
Once it became public action was quick.
Secret Service once became public action was quick.
In this case it's been public very public for a long time.
Eric Holder -- -- are the president's standing behind your colder air power holders standing behind all with lieutenant.
And we're asking what they're not responsible who is and he's saying will call you when the IDs -- the -- he's been working for every year.
And why -- the -- themselves fish -- cut bait either do this for them activists and either.
Issue because Temps may -- -- -- -- Iraq but at least that would move -- forward.
I believe that the speaker is close to the end of his -- My job of course -- to do my job until the speaker makes that decision.
I'm comfortable that that he will make decision relatively so what's not this week to week month to month I don't expect to go -- fourth of July without having a date for contempt or knowing that it's time to wrap up this investigation.
And just admit that justice is not transparent that you're not gonna get the kind of -- -- -- want.
Greta one thing that happened the hearing today there was a sleeper to.
-- is it became obvious under the democrats' talking about things they were -- satisfied with.
That this attorney general doesn't even want an article three judge a federal judge in camera to see things that he doesn't want them to see.
And you look and say wait a second that's worse than the worst -- ever accused President Bush's people love to say that they don't trust.
If you will a federal judge but that's part of what the problem is -- justice is they think they're an island and island from a separate from the the state separate from congress in separate from the judiciary.
And it's very frustrating because that's not the level of independence we expected we expected independence in operation but accountability -- -- Currency has -- one question has the border agents found in any contact with members of congress and this is still extremely raw and personal to them.
I met with Brian -- cousin just a few days ago in San Diego.
I continued to stay in touch with the families because of the other there -- anxious to get this they are and in early September we're going to be dedicating the Brian Terry a Border Patrol station and Arizona.
And it's one of my targets for this -- to be wrapped up in the sense that they yet.
The kind of accountability deserved to Brian Terry was killed over eighteen months ago so very long time not to have anyone fired -- held accountable.
I think you.
