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Is the Obama administration transparent?

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    Peter Johnson, Jr. weighs in

  • Duration 6:59
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Course the vote in the house oversight committee they approved a resolution -- along party lines a 23 to seventeen.

Holding attorney general Eric Holder in contempt for refusing to turn over a bunch of documents.

There will be a full house vote next week but the drama was incredible I -- 10 o'clock -- enough drama to vote to have.

To -- attorney general contempt of congress -- -- that substantial.

But when you find out that the president -- moments before it decides to exercise his.

Executive privilege rights and say I'm going to keep these documents myself they go ahead in committee and vote 4317 as you -- Steve.

To find the attorney general in contempt.

But does it stop here no next week they go now sport the speakers are already said.

We're gonna put this to a vote and it's a predominately Republican.

House so it's probably got -- he's gonna be found in contempt so here's the update from today Eric Holder was speaking to EU officials in Copenhagen he said regarding it.

The action that the committee took yesterday was unwarranted unnecessary.

And unprecedented.

When I know of at least one family that would like some answers and that is the family of Brian Terry's he's a federal agent who was gunned down by some of those spot.

Those fast and furious guns here's his mother on a radio show in Philly yesterday.

Somewhat the person that believed to any suggestions that he believed and tell the truth that.

Is he as a man of designers and if anybody knew him they -- there.

I know he he would be saying you know.

I died for my country and he was a true man can and I think he deserves.

The truth.

And I think everybody should know the truth and evidence of that bad.

I think that they didn't let that that's inferior it should be a balance that never happens to anybody else -- Sutton.

So the president really putting himself right into the middle of a political situation that maybe he didn't necessarily want to get as close to a lot of people are asking why did he do this writing he exert executive privilege.

Represented at -- have some ideas here they -- If he did not know about fast and furious before Brian Terry was murdered.

If he did not approve of the wiretap applications than what the world -- asserting executive privilege for.

These -- they're part of it or he's not if he's part other big -- then we've had a series of witnesses at a misled this committee.

If he's not part -- -- he's got no business asserting executive privilege.

That was our congressman -- congress and -- as it quote it only applies to materials this whole executive privilege claim.

Only -- -- materials that directly pertain to communications with the president.

And his senior advisors does is that the bill.

Peter Johnson junior is here.

Peter K first up your reactions of the president doing this where you were you expecting it.

That any -- unless you know we talked about yesterday morning you -- it in my view it's the essence of hypocrisy congressman Gatti has it right.

I think it's bad law.

It's bad politics is bad government governance and we tell you why.

For eighteen months attorney general holder in the Justice Department have responded to questions.

And turned over documents he's testified eight -- nine times so a.

They've waived any privilege by going forward.

Number tool when you say.

That we are not gonna give -- this stuff because we want to know.

How to respond to the media how to respond to your inquiries you can't know about that.

Well if there's some wrongdoing.

As part of that process then executive privilege is not involved.

There's no fraud.

Exception so -- -- going on with his wrong doing that can't be executive privilege.

Congressman has it right.

Was the president involved or not why is -- being done it does create questions in my mind in the month of lot of people in the United States well.

Apparently the current present United States -- in on this.

Back in 2007 he appeared when he was a senator on the Larry King program he was talking about how President Bush.

Was claiming the executive Brett privileged.

Let's take a listen to when things were on the other political -- it.

You know there's been a tendency on the part of this administration -- to.

Try to.

Hide behind executive privilege every time there's something.

A little shaky that's taking place.

And I think the other administration would be best served by coming clean on this.

So is this administration now hiding behind executive -- actually hiding behind executive privilege amended -- -- my homered get out of jail free.

Card to say okay and Mr.

President now we better assert executive privilege would attorney general holder is has put the president.

Foursquare into the middle of this dispute.

And now the world wants to know what happened at the border what happened with those guns why did Brian Terry died what did the president know -- did -- know what.

And what did they do to change their testimony.

Over an eighteen month period in congress to get us out of please don't but I mean it could there be something in there that is so sensitive that it shouldn't get out but at the same time you know they're not.

Nothing was necessarily done wrong in my view this is a horrible political game and it's an exploitation of what.

Should be asserted in certain situations which is executive privilege.

That's in national security issues.

A state secret issues.

Really sensitive.

Issues to say we don't wanna disclose.

How we were responding to congress'.

Questions and -- we change their testimony.

In my view and in case law I don't think that's enough the way I understand it yet -- he does not want to turn over and what he only wanted to brief.

-- chairman I -- on what communications after the fast and furious hearings began.

So when they went back and forth but there's a lot of CYA going on people getting -- stories straight -- that communication transcribed.

At which point you wonder if the president was ever brought -- -- that -- like creates that issue.

Because executive privilege usually applies to what goes on in the White House.

And what goes on in the Oval Office with the president looking through these documents did he know about this before wind did he know it.

Will the president have to speak on this issue yes he will why are you -- because yes the -- -- the American people have to know specifically.

What his role is that's not covered by executive privilege the question should be asked today at the White House briefing.

The question should be asked mr.

-- well.

What did the president know.

Wind did he know what the problem was invoking executive privilege is that it reminds me unfortunately.

The Richard Nixon did a lot of good things of president reminds you Richard Nixon.

Walking around white house with a drink in his hand thinking about how to keep the Watergate tapes.

Away from the American people this is not a good thing for this presidency or this country.

In my view and it's not.

A true definition of executive privilege -- political in my view all right I'm Peter Johnson Jeanne thank you good to see wanted to talk about that is.

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