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House looks to file suit to force Justice Department to release more files related to botched gun running sting
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What do Republicans hope the lawsuit will accomplish house or senate committee member or -- -- -- Chinese -- -- Good evening Greta how are you.
-- -- to the speaker says it -- gonna come a couple weeks that you're going to go to federal court essentially suit on the civil contempt that the House of Representatives.
Has voted I'm curious.
All the time people -- contempt to order is right down to the court what's -- -- -- about three blocks.
I haven't fully given up on criminal contempt and -- know that sounds naive put.
The Department of Justice said they're not gonna prosecute criminal contempt it's actually not clear decision this statute directs the US attorney.
Ron -- -- and until he tells us that he's not gonna go for with criminal contempt then that.
Flicker of light still remains on extinguished.
If you look it.
Committee on judiciary vs Terri -- is Josh -- took about three weeks to get the pleadings.
Filed and then about three months to give it.
A resolution.
And that's the only road map that we have in congress is that prior.
Contempt action.
On under John Conyers Judiciary Committee several years ago so I I think three weeks is a reasonable amount of time and -- with the speaker said we would take.
I don't edit the -- has a more aggressive vote lawyer than the members of congress those are lawyers and your former -- -- -- nice it's tourney but.
I don't see I notice I would not Susan in there are.
I would take both contempt citations.
Take one down to the US district court three blocks away and Salina and get that going -- the -- three Lisa Terry -- waited out a year and a half.
And it doesn't mean the reality I guess that -- -- -- the Wake Forest of the Department of Justice decide to surrender the documents and avoided that would be.
You know one reason but I I would also and I push for the criminal contempt both times putting pressure on my target that's a way I would do it.
So I don't know what you may be -- are more genteel than I am in litigation.
Well there's no question your better lawyer than any of the members of judiciary or oversight I would say I'm -- and so FC Dallas finished next.
Sometimes when you pursue criminal -- xi -- for clues from.
From deposing people because they have a Fifth Amendment.
Right not to participate -- OJ Simpson case is a wonderful example you can opposing civilly but you can't.
And a criminal case so pursuing both tracks while there -- some appeal to that in theory to reality years.
You want it at least.
Believe that criminal contempt which is more serious -- foreclosed.
I would also both lose to your point -- And so you might -- similar that.
I want the similar to go forward -- -- -- -- I don't think you're gonna get the criminal I don't think you're gonna convince the Department of Justice for the US attorney neglect and -- And -- the civil and is the only worry gonna get that but it but there is if that's the -- -- planet what I still don't get why wait.
Well I was talking -- -- staff oversight and government reform staff.
Today they are in the process they actually don't file -- house General Counsel files -- they are working on it as we speak.
They -- developing legal theories because as you know we got to and to state executive privilege.
And that we have to conform our pleadings to try to defeat set up in our initial pleadings so.
I know -- three weeks when you're waiting for justice seems like an eternity in the grand scheme of things we've been.
Working on this for eighteen months if the speakers -- we're talking about a couple of weeks.
-- -- -- -- Virtue of impatient to side and -- Woolsey.
I -- nothing and he knew this was coming.
So I would have been working on this well on advance of the actual vote most lawyers do lawyers had sort of -- I'm so it plants in the case of people pretty much thought this -- has come enemy did the math in the House of Representatives and you know you're gonna get the contempt.
In terms of -- General Counsel working on -- lawyers have been the lawyers -- these things up pretty fast it's not and we do a lot of heavy duty resurgent you can with the Internet and then -- -- a lot -- I really don't believe this can't be filed in two or three days of the -- I just even I -- -- the next day apple long lighters and cases of and I am not national and I would guess he lawyers -- but it is done all the time.
I I am not argue with you I -- I have a tendency to wanna move quicker as well I will say it is in the defense of house General Counsel.
There's not a lot of precedent you have this one case that ultimately wasn't fully litigated it was resolved.
I think there's a sense that there's a little bit of territory in terms of civil contempt and they don't want to get -- -- stealth.
Or procedural matter which would.
Be embarrassing to the -- so.
If three weeks is what's required to get it right as opposed to three days.
I won't give -- three weeks hopefully they're watching your show tonight.
And they won't unsafe -- and patients and mine as well and perhaps we can cut that in half to about we can pass just.
Okay great right now on the expected general -- Justice Department is working on a report.
I have no clue why that's taken -- Of 300 years as it has so far as an eighteen months this -- happen -- -- this I'm.
I had are still let us take you saw.
Do you have any indication when the inspector general is going to finish that report.
For the benefit of those murdered border agents family because they want information.
Five I can't group called where -- heard this or heard it -- would -- may have been from Jason chasers although it may not have been.
-- I have heard a time frame of a less than a month before the inspector general.
Will release.
His report as you know there was a there was a report -- not a part time but of but -- acting inspector general and then.
She stood down and then there was a full.
Inspector general and my guess hitters and he went and re interviewed some folks -- wanted to make sure that his first.
-- a congressional work had all the I's dotted t.s crossed -- -- -- have -- on your show for their have been -- -- that have shifted in less time in the stake in the inspector general.
To walk down the halls of DOJ -- now some pretty basic questions I can tell you this.
I cannot wait for the inspector general to release his report.
And then come before oversight judiciary.
And defend it because.
The older piece of information that I have going in -- that they are going to be very critical.
Of the report the US attorney's office and ATF in Arizona.
Which is about as -- beings.
There's a news alerts that the earth is round they're going to protect the department of justice and they're gonna implicate ATF.
And the US attorney's office in Arizona and now will be wholly unsatisfactory.
To many of lost in a -- inspector general I would plan for very long day on Capitol Hill.
-- -- -- The source alliance an equal -- is complete and he is finished with his report.
And and that do you serve.
The thing that we may never forget we try and every segment with every night is that you know -- -- Department of Justice is dragging its feet and they've produced in the dock which are resolved and it assuming executive privilege doesn't -- -- all the documents -- -- does doesn't.
Is that there was a border agent murdered and his family I think reasonably expects more from all of us to get that information.
Anyway here's an -- always the big losers yes ma'am thank you yes and then you worry US attorney -- -- says Tracy went through that would thank you sex.
