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House Oversight Committee chair reflects on hearing on findings in inspector general's report on 'Fast and Furious', wants more heads to roll
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And that of the just released inspector general scathing report on operation fast and -- House oversight committee chair -- crisis say in the report confirms.
-- -- committee has known all along that the Department of Justice has left the American people down and today the DOJ inspector general testified before the oversight committee.
And we caught up with chairman I set after the hearing.
The Department of Justice inspector general report is out are you satisfied that the attorney general Eric Holder knew nothing about fast and furious.
Well Michael Horwitz AIG did -- -- -- just not accurate and complete job to the extent he was allowed to.
What he found.
Was that the attorney general specifically was not briefed and informed as to the details of -- -- periods.
Interestingly.
The former chief of staff in the same report.
Said that with the people who did know the attorney general should have known.
So there's there's clearly a question not -- did he know because he said he didn't know the question is why in the world -- its key lieutenants keep it from them.
And of course why is that something that we took this long to discover it.
Jason Weinstein is one of them and he has not resigned -- correct he has any other one that one of his lieutenants is Lanny brewer.
Who has only been admonished by the attorney general he's not gone concentrate -- said last night to use his word that Lanny -- should be -- do you -- Lebanese brewers judgment was so bad and his failure to.
If he didn't fully understand what was going on to fully understand.
Makes it very question about how you could rely on him to be head of the criminal division.
When in fact all the fast and furious is all the wiretaps everything goes through him this is too important and you both -- Protection of our society but also on Fourth Amendment grounds it's too important connection not have him gone.
It's -- -- and I wonder is did Laney brewer.
Was he forthright with the committee -- dragged his feet -- dodge things so that he didn't do so wasn't dishonest.
-- we see straight because -- I want people who -- most high positions were just -- -- laid out whatever it is.
Not those that are sort of you know -- was he straight again.
Well I think the best way to do it is to take from the IG's findings.
Lanny brewer on February 4 received an email that -- that was in fact the false letter given to.
Us senator Grassley.
He wants us to believe that he responded good job.
That in fact he sent it to his personal email but -- not only never read it but -- for ten months he saw no connection between the false statements about gun walking.
And what he clearly knew about pass gun walking.
So to that extent there's an absence of candor you know you know it has and there's a nice what you believe them -- think David I don't -- -- yeah.
No I don't think he's being straight and I think he's trying to -- the edges.
And has an officer of the court as an attorney you're not supposed to do that and I think that's where -- out he has there's an officer of the court as an attorney and a former prosecutor.
He gets it.
That you've got to be absolutely.
Candid and honest.
Or the whole system falls apart.
Lanny brewer was clearly not candid and honest and forthright he certainly missed ten months of an opportunity to correct the record he had to know was false.
Didn't see it should the attorney general have.
-- -- tray down it kind of took out his mission if candidate and and why didn't he do you think.
Well now I can't judge the attorney general and why he didn't he should have done it.
The attorney general wants us to believe it is said multiple times that he acted quickly and decisively he's made corrections according to report as soon as she -- -- -- fast and furious he peaked.
Keep killed -- to me get rid of that actually festive period was already dead before that from the time that the son asked me is -- wrong.
But let's just say that you know we've already open our investigation before he got to -- IG.
Clearly the death of Brian Terry was what ended fast and furious.
And and and should have ended long before that.
The real question is why did we wait nineteen months why did we go through all this time waiting for -- ING.
To come up with his findings when Jason Weinstein was in his outer office Leonard many -- in and out of his office on a daily basis.
These people who had such bad judgment have been.
Key and -- for that matter key allies of the attorney general the president says he has full faith and confidence in the attorney general.
I asked the question of how -- you have confidence -- somebody who cannot manage key managers mistakes in a timely fashion I you gonna continue to pursue it in court contempt of congress and the attorney general.
That's up to.
The attorney general.
He provided but as far as -- if if he doesn't if he doesn't provide a more documents they still gonna -- -- we have no choice we congress voted and we were.
Ordered essentially by congress to get to that contempt relieved by full discovery of the areas in which.
Presidential.
Executive privilege was asserted inappropriately.
In light of everything is not transpired do you think it -- -- should stay in office or not.
Well I'm going to be a prime minister Greg -- just for once here we have very little time until there's a new administration.
The few weeks -- few months are probably not the big point.
But you remember when Martha Johnson and the GSA scandal happened.
The one thing she did she happen to resign quickly but she also left a list of -- corrections and things that should be done.
My point tonight is the attorney general needs to very quickly show is that at least now that there is a comprehensive report.
That shows him how wrong his organization -- been.
They take -- the -- -- corrective action and do it very openly and.
