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DOJ has contempt for Holder's contempt charges
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Justice Department says it won't prosecute Attorney General Holder for contempt after House vote
- Duration 5:49
- Date Jun 29, 2012
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Justice Department says it won't prosecute Attorney General Holder for contempt after House vote
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New -- -- and fast and furious showdown -- 24 hours -- the households attorney general Eric Holder in contempt the Justice Department fires back.
The Justice Department asserting.
Attorney general Eric holder's actions do not constitute a crime and thus -- not be prosecuted house oversight -- dare I say is not happy about that.
His spokesperson saying is regrettable that the political leadership of the Justice Department is trying to intervene in an effort to prevent the US attorney for the District of Columbia.
From making an independent decision about whether to prosecute this case.
So what can house Republicans do now congressman Jason -- -- joins -- Canadian service.
-- -- -- -- have a copy of the the letter around from the Department of Justice said to have speaker Boehner says there will be no prosecution of the criminal contempt of your I assume you've seen this is that right.
Yes yes and how -- -- I -- it would.
Well -- it's -- it's amazing that the White House wants to have it both ways on.
On on the one hand dead they would they say that he's not independent enough they're not gonna pursue this enough he hasn't committed economy was just tell that occurred -- -- Criminal contempt.
But at that same time they want that same US attorney to be able to pursue the investigation of the the probe of the -- said that of the intelligence leaks that are happening there in the White House up.
They're trying to have it both ways that doesn't make sense but.
There is there is another alternative we had a second vote yesterday and that is to go to.
To the civil court and for -- -- house representatives are hired attorney go make the case before the court and and hopefully will find in our favor.
It's win you intend to go to civil court to seek -- -- force -- of this subpoena.
So it's been put together right now we we and anticipated this it was unfortunate we thought that this Obama White House would move very quickly to.
Two seal off any opportunity for the US attorney today it should do the right thing and actually go.
Have pursue this in the criminal court but.
At the same time so we had we have foreshadowed that that's why we had a second vote giving the house the authorization to do that even more Democrats piled on top of that one then.
And -- that's what we're pursuing.
-- you -- your explanation for our wise this appears not comply with is it mean.
The in the attorney general and the team -- DOJ says there's nothing in the documents which of course next questioning what there's nothing in -- Hawaii turnover except if it's part of an investigation unless it's part of a grudge.
You know -- -- think that that congress is being too pushy and overstepping its authority which.
What's your what's sure -- -- working theory as to why it has gotten to this why the documents have not been surrendered.
Well it it's a bit more of a theory -- at at this point -- I really do believe.
That what we would see within those documents is a concerted effort to obstruct congress -- obstruction of congress in our work.
Is a crime men and if you had people scrambling.
-- protects.
-- and did not provide access to witnesses not provide access to documents.
Then you can see where this blossoms up to something something much more remember Brian Terry was killed in December.
Mid December of 2010.
It 2011 high mesa pot and ice agent was killed in Mexico.
And I think when you see that in mid February he C -- scrambling within that department agency both homeland security and the Department of Justice.
We're certainly if I had all my goodness we have a second agent that may have been killed from these weapons now.
They couldn't ultimately prove that -- was killed from a fast and furious weapon we see a whole concerted effort within those two agencies to move a different direction that's when you start to see this scrambling Jason Weinstein for instance.
One of the deputies goes down to Phoenix will he gives a glowing report of the AT -- But only later than in August Sudan in you know try to -- -- all those glowing comments and so.
He had to scramble between when we are set the bogus letter on February 4.
Up until and they rescinded it hit the latter part of the year.
And that's where I think the department just is like wow this gets much deeper and they just -- don't want to provide those documents.
But I think is painfully.
-- shameful that we have a dead border agent and a year and a half later and we have not given answers to the family and and and that I think that these answers could have been provided long with foreign downwind and deadliest.
And that that I think is a disgrace but I'm sort of curious whether it is in these documents are not.
Oftentimes investigations may have people get information from whistle blowers or sources they give you a reason to serve -- -- Do you have that I had I don't know -- -- would give any information from whistle blowers are sources it's making your pursuit.
Any particular documents -- -- season in anything after.
And it looked Greta this is an over -- there will be more subpoenas that will be issued there will be more witnesses called before the committee.
If the Democrats think they can just walk out of the vote in middle they'll be done with that he'd say hey we're up for election and that and -- got to happen.
I made a promise you my -- -- sit -- tech.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Give it give -- sources so whistle blowers that are that have served Pique your interest so that you you're really serves join in Italy in particular documents -- -- -- you have that none of these it would do you have that.
-- so absolutely.
What I'm not sure -- other show tonight but they're government.
They're common -- I know you're you're doubtful I think America was doubtful that we were actually gonna get to this point it's a shame we should be at this point.
The attorney general should do the right thing Barack Obama should do the right thing the president should put this to rest.
But he hasn't and we have a duty and obligation.
And a moral imperative to pursue it to the end of the earth we will do that it's going to happen.
I'm not gonna let go district got he's actually -- and that's it certainly chairman Iceland's not gonna let go let us there's something fundamentally wrong here and we're gonna get to the bottom of it.
-- thank you --