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House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa reflects on Congressional vote to hold Attorney General Holder in contempt
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It has never happened before but today it did -- the full House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote.
Vote to hold attorney general Eric Holder in contempt of congress now it's a first time a US attorney general has ever been held in contempt.
But not all house members are sticking around for today's historic vote.
In a dramatic display most -- house Democrats walking out of the capitol building in protest.
So what is next we spoke with house oversight share -- -- It's a tremendous to see you sir thank you for having me -- I -- that you've received no phone calls from the justice department of the White House the last 1214 hours.
Now the last conversation we had was at the picnic yesterday evening.
With one of their staff and expressing that we still would've liked to have brought this to a successful close without the vote.
And I six point picnic that is the annual congressional picnic -- Republicans and Democrats and the president get together at the White House.
And the entire administration and so all of the key -- -- there.
But we had no contact after that and obviously the vote has been held you've held him in contempt.
Criminally and civilly found tell me what is the difference or what the impact is.
Based on past experience it's very possible president will instruct the US attorney not to prosecute further on the criminal side.
The house has authorized.
Me to hire staff and dollar legal staff who then can pursue civilly in the courts to try do.
Get -- federal judge to order.
Separately this discovery.
When you head off to federal court for the civil contempt after reasonable time to see if the administration will allow compliance by the US attorney in the District of Columbia certainly a few weeks if you take that -- we didn't -- -- be pretty obvious whether they intend to or not.
Well if the president issues instructions that would that would settle it but.
If we don't know any better we certainly have to give the US attorney a reasonable amount of time after all the same US attorney is also investigating the leaks in this administration.
And of course would be a Republican US attorney in Marilyn.
So he's he's -- -- -- play got a lot of his plate but.
You know at the same time this is a year and a half will be off -- week during the district work period our committee will be planning to continue the investigation.
If you will around the cooperation of the -- the attorney general.
What was your thought when that democratic delegation got up and walked out most of them -- -- -- this was a bipartisan vote and we'll concede that but.
Many in the democratic delegation walked out of the chamber.
There walking out was probably symbolic of the fact that in 2008 something similar happened among Republicans.
What's disappointing though was the facts were lost a lot of things -- said on the house floor today.
That we do not -- resemblance to the truth for example repeatedly members on the democratic side kept saying.
That this was begun under bush when they know that the programs begun during the President Bush were stopped under President Bush and I've been committed and said they were wrong.
And that in fact this is a program that was completely begun under President Obama and that ultimately the attorney general's Justice Department does own this failed operation.
Well the attorney -- has made a statement.
And he has said.
Others and I assume that he's -- -- you have devoted their time attention to making reckless charges.
Unsupported by fact he -- a you don't have fact and to advancing truly absurd conspiracy.
Theories ever said right after the vote.
Well the attorney general is a little bit like if you remember the Menendez Brothers who killed their parents and then.
If they had claimed they were orphans it would have been equally genuine.
Ultimately saying we don't have -- -- the facts we have point to this cover up and people injustice and we're not being given the documents.
So it's it's rather self serving to say we don't have all the proof.
Of what we're trying to discover even though we have testimony that indicates high ranking officials injustice are ultimately responsible for fast period.
Scott -- subpoenaed documents of any documents -- Been forthcoming -- even the last 4448 hours -- they offered you any more.
Well they've actually given the press.
Some that they denied us.
One that where the apparently the attorney general looks really good saying I want no BS I wanna get discovery.
The fact is that they are selectively releasing documents from what they claim to have privilege on as we speak apparently.
But no there's been no offer documents not affect the attorney general told us.
If we didn't go forward with contempt he'd give us these couple hundred documents if we did go forward we get nothing.
White house calls it political theater like doing.
I'm -- that the White House would think that way.
When she was on the other foot then Senator Obama felt very strongly and oversight and in the respect for the separation of our branches and our responsibilities.
I would wish he would feel the same way now.
What do you think -- happ who went in this this storm that as a separate me is it said.
-- they have a graduate do or they don't like turn them over they think they have a legitimate right and this privileges -- stand out are they high you submit.
What's your theory as this advances.
A year ago.
July 3 and fourth.
The former acting.
ATF director Kenneth Nelson.
Told us that he believed they were covering for high ranking political appointees.
And it's one of the reasons he came forward to give -- voluntary testimony.
Was he wanted to clear the year about what he knew what he -- know and in fact correspondence he had once he discovered that guns were walking.
And that some of his ATF agents were part of it he give me names.
He did and we pursued those and that's one of the problems as he gave us the names he gave us the emails that he sent to and those are some of the the emails that we've been denied.
And do you think that those said Nancy -- -- those people obstructing the investigation anyway.
Are they cooperating.
Well -- certainly not providing the email trains.
That we're talking about asking for.
And we have to we have to consider that a cover up because they were at least if Kenneth Nelson gave us honest testimony in this crime to lie to us.
Then in fact that they were informed and should have not allow that false letter to come to congress and to last for ten Mormon.
Months at a minimum.
Indiana last them message sent tonight is everyone starts to go home -- had -- -- vote any statement to the attorney general environment.
I've -- statement for the attorney general my statement is to the Terry family.
That in fact we will continue -- the investigation to try to get to the people responsible for their son their family members -- And will let the courts and the rest the process play out for the attorney general -- thanks to thank you.
