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Rep. Gowdy on 'Fast & Furious' hearing

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    Did the attorney general answer the committee’s questions?

  • Duration 12:03
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First guest this morning is gonna be talking about fast and furious that -- operation that reportedly ended with one of the guns that.

Was being run across the border by our government.

As part of that ops.

Was found at the scene of the death of the US border agent Brian Terry you may know the story yesterday -- attorney general on Capitol Hill.

Answering questions some of it got pretty heated.

We -- a lot of it here on foxnews.com.

And on Fox News Channel if you watched any of it you may have had some questions about what was really going on.

Inside those hearings and to help let's get an inside scoop.

A close up vision of that is congressman trade -- he's a Republican of South Carolina and good enough to join us with the playbook this morning good to see your congressmen.

-- -- good to see to my first question for you do you believe attorney general holder answered your questions at yesterday's hearing.

Well Willie didn't ads from completely.

Didn't ensure and fully and there was really no new information this is this sixth or seventh hearing we've had with.

Connection to fast and furious and I think his strategy is to.

Delay and slow walk and hope that we give -- so there wasn't really a lot of new information.

Turned up yesterday.

Yet you know you mentioned that there have been several -- -- -- -- our reporter yesterday said that this was the ninth one.

What is it pitcher trying to get to that you think -- slow walking.

Well in fairness some of the hearings like the one yesterday it was not about fast and furious it was a general.

Department of Justice oversight hearing the fact that thirteen of us ask about fast and furious should be an indication to -- home that is pretty important.

-- but what I want pretty simple -- wanna know -- the highest level officials within main justice not Arizona.

But Washington DC main justice who were the highest level official -- cool about this tactic -- gone walking.

Carter Brian Terry's murder that's the first thing -- wanna know.

The second thing don't wanna know harassing you may remember in February of 2011 the Department of Justice wrote a letter.

To a United States senator where they denied the -- you've gone walking right it was a demonstrably.

False letter.

I would like to know how little letter -- that demonstrably false could be drafted.

Written and delivered on behalf of the Department of Justice to a member of congress those -- the two main.

Things -- -- know cause I'll wanna be able to tell people all worked for until you.

That this tactic won't -- be used again and that we figured out how it was in this.

And this is just the so they would all have to worry about as Americans we don't have to worry about sending guns to Mexico to or.

-- the drug cartels again -- until I can tell you that there we're gonna keep asking questions.

Yet you know what I think a lot of Americans may be also asking.

How someone who's supposed to be in charge wouldn't have known about such a huge operation.

I know that there are a lot of people do a lot of things on Capitol Hill and around the country and I'm not gonna -- That you -- knows every.

The buck does stop there or does it not with Eric Holder.

No it doesn't it that's kind of -- -- all along is either he knew about it in which case he doesn't need to be the attorney general.

Or he didn't know about it but should have in which case she doesn't need to be the attorney general.

It's very clear that Laney brewer -- about it he's the criminal division chief at main justice.

Is also clear that all other senior level DOJ officials.

-- but the tactic and did nothing.

To stop it but of course the attorney general's position is -- -- asked -- inspector general report we just have to wait.

Until that comes out but -- -- This Specter generals and off the top law enforcement official for this country right that would be the attorney general and that would be -- -- I personally like it when people -- more responsibility.

Then they're supposed to that's what leaders do -- take more responsibility.

They're they're supposed to.

Here's one thing -- take -- crystal clear.

But it how would ask you to ask yourself if you -- the attorney general.

And that was a dead Border Patrol agent in December of 2010.

Do you not think you would ask.

Why in that had just happened -- need to be and we.

Until the president or told the parents -- Brian teary how this happened I wanna know everything from polar deposed about fast and furious.

And that's what I think most attorney general's would have done -- that was in December of 2002.

-- -- I want to give our viewers a chance to chime in on this but I also want everybody to hear in his own words Eric Holder on the hill so I wanna go two.

Part of his testimony from yesterday -- he says I share your concerns about how these operations were developed and implemented.

Let's watch.

I share your concerns about how these operations were developed and held -- war.

Implemented and that's why just his congressional leaders have called for answers.

I asked the department's inspector general can conduct a comprehensive investigation.

As well.

And also put in place new leadership -- ATF which has taken steps including the implementation of a stricter oversight procedure for all significant investigations to prohibit.

He fought tactics employed in -- employed in these operations.

All right so we were just watching the attorney general Eric Holder and and I I you know I appreciate -- -- the congressman has described this this is a general meeting.

With this department and thirteen of you had questions about fast and furious so I quickly morphed into.

Questions about -- gun running operation now to give our live shatters a chance -- -- says.

Is it time for speaker John Boehner to get off the pot and hold Eric Holder in contempt mr.

Downey.

You know speaker later came to set down beside me about a week ago -- the house floor because you -- -- frustrated with the pace of both of our action he wrote a letter to the attorney general which is kind of unprecedented saying you need to answer their questions or -- -- I I'd agree with you or if you were but who thinks this is taking -- -- that's been my position.

Also what are -- -- -- -- fact that John Boehner probably no lose.

Things that I don't know that has considerations beyond those that just don't.

Little former prosecutor from South Carolina would have.

I think speaker Boehner is here is important here is the leader cantor Eric Cantor he's the second declared a house said he was -- be monitoring the hearing.

Yesterday to gauge interest invested serious.

If anyone watched that hearing yesterday judiciary they would have come away knowing that a majority of us care very much about fast -- I think I think that the window is rapidly closing for the attorney general to comply.

But your viewers right it's already taken too long and many of us are frustrated.

Have you -- -- frustrations and mr.

Boehner no rule.

To have lie.

I just round I -- -- but but I I do it privately number one -- goes I think is more effective.

-- -- -- -- If you allow me to step in for second in the interest of time mr.

got -- because I do want to get to this issue.

Of politics and -- when you say you do it and in the interest of keeping things quiet behind closed doors you also don't want this to be seen.

As a political football or or -- political witch -- your comments on that.

It's not to me I -- former prosecutor.

I think the Department of Justice should be above above politics we work world.

Blindfolded woman who cares -- -- to set a scales.

I would be asking the exact same question terrorists if this -- -- Republican administration and a Republican attorney general.

If there's -- -- left in the world that should be beyond politics is should be our criminal justice system and respect for the rule them all.

So I've been very careful to not make it personal -- the attorney general to not make it political.

And I can tell you within my well of souls I would I would ask the exact same questions.

If -- Republican attorney general.

Yesterday you said thirteen of -- broke up with questions about this it was a general topic meeting though how many of you were there in the room.

Oh god forty something and -- Woodside I have put you right wrist are okay now from a live chat again Chris givens won.

And congressman we appreciate you playing along like this because this is how the viewers get there voice is so we want to give them a chance.

Chris -- -- says it seems like Eric Holder saying quote look I fixed it can't we just move on.

What changes have been may -- out what fixes happen.

Whether political -- there -- three comes as more people reviewing more depth applications is to worry and he's correct the ATF head.

Is gone.

Where he is incorrect is you can't just say hey look I'm sorry I did that let's move on and forget about it we would all like to do that when we.

-- up produce something well yeah all we did we wanna change that that.

The conversation I -- understand how a tactic is -- oldest gun walking was ever approved in the in the first instance and -- some of the people who made the decisions with respect to fast and furious or still in positions of leadership.

Within the Department of Justice.

What how do that then.

What will you do next are we gonna see hearing number ten what happened.

I'm gonna love you ought to also leader -- yesterday I'm -- -- the speaker all the floor make sure he'd.

Followed what happened yesterday -- you this year and I've.

If there's going to be a meeting this afternoon between committee chairman of which I have not one but but I'm aware -- I think we're going to see yesterday.

-- proved to everyone.

That the attorney general is not -- to do anything until we make him do it.

And it's what you want to -- you want Hollywood to comply with the subpoena I want him to provide the information that we requested.

I want three things answers and accountability acceptance of responsibility.

You give me those three things look the chips fall where they -- if he didn't nobody.

-- then.

They needed nobody but the Laney brewer and older senior level officials within main justice did know about it.

Thirty to be consequences just like there would be if you were on the stupid decision.

All right wrote quickly and you know not everybody is so focused on this and and there are people were going to be up for reelection or election this year.

And they have other things on their mind so from David Larson real quickly -- got -- before I let you go.

Do you know when we as a nation might have a budget.

I have not been demoted yet so -- not in the United States senate they have not pass but it.

They have not passed a budget -- over a thousand days we have passed one every year that I had been in congress which is now to.

So I and I know people use your viewers an -- retarded people saying was not -- all go blame someone else but the reality is.

You know Paul Ryan's Budget Committee has prepared and -- to budgets were two for two reasons I've been here we can't make this ended.

-- call from their map or or.

Do resulting.

-- is you know ministerial and unimportant -- pass a budget to the United States while they're engaged in naming post offices.

Another really important things we -- we can't control what the United States senate does but that's where I would direct my questions.

I love about talking with you.

You don't have like that list of talking points and I don't say this in any way shape or form said that this other than say it.

-- -- -- Our viewers I think -- -- -- listening to you.

All of the talk you voice of the caller gosh darn it that happens doesn't it -- -- -- representative straight dowdy Republican from South Carolina this morning giving us an inside view.

Of the hearing with attorney general Eric Holder yesterday so I appreciate your time.

And and our viewers really appreciated you answering their questions mr.

-- thank you I hope you'll come back again Uggla who had a great week.