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House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will vote June 20 whether to hold attorney general in contempt for 'Fast and Furious'
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House leaders are threatening an even taking steps towards pulling the trigger.
Attorney general Eric Holder is a giant step closer to -- contempt citation.
House oversight and Government Reform Committee just didn't they set a date to decide whether to -- attorney general in contempt or not that -- set for next week.
Some house Republicans say attorney general holder has been flagrantly ignoring their October subpoena to him despite their repeated requests.
They want the attorney -- -- to produce more documents relate to operation fast and furious.
Concentrate unease and member the oversight and Government Reform Committee he joins -- good evening -- Good evening Greta how are you.
I never allowed so the data is next week for the vote by the committee on Iran put a prediction whether or not -- -- course by Republicans but will there be a vote on a committee to seek a contempt citation.
-- is set for next Thursday and you know -- historically when we've gotten to this point the forty bit.
Is being asked to comply has gone ahead and comply so we've never actually gotten to the point historically.
Of -- voting so when he contempt of congress so why there between now and Thursday he'll produce the documents we've asked for.
Or we're gonna more call for have a hearing.
On contempt of congress and you're -- the division news is is more Republican to Democrat I would hope.
There's some of our colleagues on the other side would view this is a law enforcement issue not a political issue I would love to have some of them.
Join us his stand up for the prerogative of congress reform oversight.
But we'll find out Thursday I can tell you how I won't vote and I suspect -- know what the -- -- will be.
If we actually get to it if he doesn't comply between now and then.
Our bike compliance for you -- -- them first of all what documents do you want to give me some some idea of the universe.
-- and secondly are you willing to it negotiator do you simply doesn't documents you want.
Those documents if you -- and how to -- -- we all those documents are you be voting for contempt.
I wasn't a great negotiator when -- was a prosecutor I think when he gets to a certain point you have to look the jury decide.
But on thankfully for the country are suppose I'm not in a leadership position in congress so would be -- -- -- John Boehner.
Those decisions will be made at a higher level in mind if they asked my opinion.
I think for the sanctity of the constitutional role of oversight for congress we've given him over a year.
So I'll I don't like to reward and delay its.
It in and letting people plea bargain all the courthouse steps so to speak.
In terms categories of documents their 22 categories.
Fourteen of which we have no documents whatsoever.
So the first piece of paper he gives us will be the only piece of paper we have an -- category.
I'm primarily interest did he and any more evidence that senior level DOJ officials -- but fast and furious Pryor to Brian Terry's death.
And I'm primarily interstate and how such a demonstrably false letter.
Could have been drafted approved.
And ultimately delivered by the Department of Justice as it was a senator Grassley.
And I -- speaking about someone that they have now admitted would have had false information I guess that they say that they didn't have the information they were misinformed that they were not deliberately trying to -- To -- full or -- senator Grassley now what the Justice Department says team to that cost it about price -- -- from the beginning.
Chairman I says distort the facts -- testimony at a -- inaccurate accusations at the attorney general and others.
Do you do you take issue with that.
Won't take issue issues this is it is just -- demonstrably false is the letter they sent in February.
I mean -- look there in a no win situation they're not complying.
With a legitimate congressional inquiry we have a -- Border Patrol agent we have hundreds of dead Mexican citizens.
This is a bad issue -- -- law enforcement standpoint for the Department of Justice it's probably a bad political issue all the -- not the right person to ask.
What are they going to say they can either say -- right we messed up.
Or they can do what.
The attorney general spokeswoman did today which is say that this is a typical Washington game I promise you -- -- -- Washington a lot longer that I have.
So if anyone knows how to play Washington games it would be Helm and not the freshman all the oversight committee.
It's not about politics never has been -- me.
Comply with the subpoena you may be exonerated you may have done nothing wrong how -- know that if you're withholding the document.
It's one of the other things that the department justice says is that there's an ongoing investigation and they don't want jeopardize -- investigation by surrendering documents to you.
I assume they agree that you know in the right this is be a legitimate reason not to -- -- -- -- now.
Do you believe that just to be a direction or -- may -- going to believe that that would be a sufficient excuse anyway.
To be candy would -- have -- -- -- -- there is an ongoing investigation they're actually ongoing prosecutions.
I would never want to jeopardize that.
What I don't think emails from -- liberal were to Jason Weinstein -- to the attorney general.
Or emails exchanged surrounding the drafting of the Salerno has nothing to do with -- prosecutions.
Or ongoing criminal investigation so.
Put any tunnel prosecutor doesn't want to comply with a for your request we always tell you in the media there's an ongoing investigation.
I suspect you see through it when we used to do it as a prosecutor.
And -- certainly see through it when is being done now.
Why -- -- attorney general not answer your subpoena.
Let's just there's I.
Greta I don't know I I've.
He's got a -- job I want to be fair to blame must suspicion years.
The -- or something and those documents that proves what we its.
Suspected all -- which is this was not an -- or Arizona operation.
-- justices fingerprints are all over it.
And someone high up so some high political appointee it may not be here recorder.
It may be Lanny brewer may be someone else I don't know who puts so more and orchestrated.
That false letter to congress which is going to prove to be very damning.
That's the only conclusion -- -- left.
To reach because he has all the precipice of history will be the first attorney general to actually be held in contempt of congress.
At least a modern times I don't think he wants settlement -- back.
I know your very very aggressive not to send out congressman -- -- -- -- congressman I says but I'm curious what do you think that.
Speaker Boehner and the Republican leadership in the house has the -- the the stomach to -- the political will to.
You know pursue this further whether those -- negotiate this away but whether you will get all your documents or the contempt.
Well you know split speaker Boehner set -- -- -- the house -- about a week ago.
He knows -- frustrated he also knows -- background I've got this issue means a lot to me for a number of reasons Eric Cantor that I spoke about it before -- left last week.
I think.
What was really important to them was to watch not an oversight.
The committee hearing but -- Judiciary Committee hearing last week.
We're fourteen members ask about fast and furious including Democrats ask about fast and furious so.
This is not a a political issue is not just to cut a handful of southern states in Utah they care about it.
If it's really important.
In terms respect for law enforcement respect for the rule of all think in congress' responsibility.
To ask these questions -- If there were an operation like this and I didn't ask these questions.
You would come down -- me and you should do so it's my job to ask how this could have happened and what guarantees do we have it'll never happen again.
I think you and mr.
Benny what mr.
Boehner.
We'll have a steel spine when it comes to this -- and leadership.
I think the way mr.
Boehner does things as he gets all of those facts ahead of time.
-- he was a little slower that I would have liked for him to a bit in all candor in coming to this conclusion you came to over the weekend.
But -- -- made up his mind that we're we're born to go this route the attorney general better provide those documents or he will go down in history and not in a way that he wants.
I just to represent -- -- -- -- your background of viewers may have forgotten your former federal prosecutor and justice from further -- -- president thank you -- Thank you --
