Issa: Holder misled Congress on Fast & Furious to cover for staff
posted at 9:20 am on December 8, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Jon Corzine isn’t the only Democrat heading down Pennsylvania Avenue for a Congressional grilling today. Attorney General Eric Holder will also appear today to answer questions about Operation Fast and Furious in the House at 10 am ET today. Politico reports that the pressure has been getting to Holder lately:
Holder will be back on the firing line Thursday, testifying at a House Judiciary Committee hearing just 10 days after the normally unflappable former judge betrayed more than a little irritation at being a constant target.
“You guys need to — you guys need to stop this,” Holder told a reporter for the conservative Daily Caller website, which has been gathering calls for the attorney general’s resignation from lawmakers, presidential candidates and even governors. “This is not an organic thing that’s just happening. … You guys are behind this,” the attorney general complained, pointing his finger at reporter Neil Munro.
A former spokesman for Holder, Matt Miller, said the attorney general was simply expressing his frustration at Fast and Furious becoming a political football. “He obviously recognizes that there are legitimate questions to be answered and he’s been at the forefront of that, but there are some on the Hill and in the right-wing press who care a lot more about playing politics,” Miller said.
Playing politics? Funny, that’s exactly what the House thinks that the White House did with its gun-running program, and yesterday’s CBS report on a memo that demonstrated the desire to use the program to argue for tighter gun-control laws looks like a smoking gun, pun most definitely intended. That opens up a whole new line of questioning for Holder about what the actual purpose of OF&F was, and why the DoJ and ATF allowed it to get out of control.
House Oversight chair Rep. Darrell Issa increased the pressure on Holder, too. In a USA Today column, Issa accuses Holder of deliberately misleading Congress in an attempt to cover up OF&F to protect his staff:
•On March 12, 2010, then-acting Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler received a detailed briefing on Fast and Furious. His handwritten notes show that the briefing included details on tactics and the fact that named individuals were buying hundreds of weapons for Mexican cartels. Since then, he has become Holder’s chief of staff.
•On Oct. 31 of this year, Lanny Breuer, assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division, apologized for failing to “draw a connection between the unacceptable tactics” used in Fast and Furious and another program that employed similar tactics. He has retained his job.
•Last week, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich took the extraordinarily rare step of withdrawing a letter he sent to Congress because it contained false information. He has retained his job.
In the view of former acting ATF director Ken Melson, the department has been trying to manage its response in a way designed to protect its political appointees. That appears to be true.
Surprisingly, no one at Justice Department headquarters has faced any meaningful consequences. While replacing the entire ATF leadership structure and causing the U.S. attorney for Arizona to tender his resignation, Holder has consistently used a concurrent investigation by the inspector general to prevent him from acting against senior officials close to him.
This should set the stage for a lively hearing today. The House Oversight Committee has a new website dedicated to the OF&F investigation, which includes a portal through which the live hearing can be viewed. Don’t miss it.
Blowback
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It’s like something Tom Clancy would dream up. Except in his books the bad guys usually get their comeuppance, not a pass by the media.
EnglishRogue on December 8, 2011 at 9:26 AM
Guess Brian Terry’s death, along with a couple hundred innocent Mexicans just don’t bother him much . . .
BigAlSouth on December 8, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Grow a pair AND a spine, GOP House members, and DON’T LET HOLDER DODGE POINTED QUESTIONS!
Thank you.
listens2glenn on December 8, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Isn’t misleading Congress a crime? I for one would applaud the sight of Eric Holder being frog marched out of the DoJ building!
It is clear there is enough involvement by Holder and his close associates to demand a complete shake-up of the department starting with the dismissal and ultimate prosecution of the arrogant Mr. Holder.
Happy Nomad on December 8, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Again, crickets will be chirping from the lsm
Instead, let’s focus on newt and his baggage once again
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Get ‘im, Issa.
Crack this SOB open like a walnut.
cane_loader on December 8, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Holder didn’t “mislead”, he stone-cold lied about an operation that got at least two American LE agents killed, and for that his butt should be dragged into a prison cell to await trial.
Enough of this polito-speak in which these dudes trade barbs and then one guy is allowed to resign to private life as a highly-paid lobbyist. This is bullshiite. I hate politicians.
Bishop on December 8, 2011 at 9:29 AM
“Misled”? Really? I really want our side to call these pieces of excrement out by telling the truth. Holder and his DOJ lied. Period. He should be in jail.
SouthernGent on December 8, 2011 at 9:36 AM
“This is not an organic thing that’s just happening. …
You guysSarah Brady and the rest of the gun facistas are behind this,”Fixed
antipc on December 8, 2011 at 9:37 AM
I’d give my left testicle to be there in the gallery.
All I’d need is a box of paper clips and a rubber band. :-)
My Sharia Moor on December 8, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Looks like Holder and Corzine must have contracted a case of Windy City Felonitis from the west wing Chi-town bums. The main symptom is a peculiar form of dementia – no matter what you hear, see or do, you don’t know nuttin’ ’bout nuttin’. There is no known cure at this time.
MayorDaley on December 8, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Like I’ve said before:
Eric Holder in an orange jumpsuit. Nothing less.
CurtZHP on December 8, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Well color me shocked, CNN will air some of it live
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Excellent!
petefrt on December 8, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Obama needs to ban this smoking gun as soon as possible.
GardenGnome on December 8, 2011 at 9:42 AM
How about an Open Thread to go along with it…?
… Just askin’.
(looks to make sure popcorn is in abundance)
Seven Percent Solution on December 8, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Prosecute Eric Holder for perjury and defund the Department of Justice.
Mike Honcho on December 8, 2011 at 9:46 AM
The guy allegedly lied to cover his OWN butt not his staff !
Sandybourne on December 8, 2011 at 9:53 AM
if blago gets 14 years for being a chicago politician what does someone who sends thousands of guns to lawless individuals in mexico get?
acyl72 on December 8, 2011 at 9:53 AM
They arent “his people”.
Cloture on December 8, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Darrell Issa is coming on strong.
Naturally Curly on December 8, 2011 at 9:54 AM
I don’t think there will be any house cleaning until Obama goes. When that happens Holder and all his advisors and staff and some prosecutors need to go also.
We have had too many Border agents prosecuted for doing their job. This part started when Bush was in office. And indications are the house cleaning needs to be extended to the ATF.
TerryW on December 8, 2011 at 9:56 AM
It would be wonderful if this thing really got some legs. There are too many people who still have no idea what this is all about.
dmn1972 on December 8, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Nice. I can write some Christmas cards while I watch. I’m feeling merry already.
lynncgb on December 8, 2011 at 9:59 AM
Promoted, apparently.
Patrick S on December 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM
How many people were killed by these guns? Wasn’t that the plan to begin with. Not an American death but deaths in Mexico for the purpose of creating the false premise that American guns need to be controlled. For left wing gun politics people were sacrificed. No one wants guns in the hands of criminals… except the left. Where are the criminal charges against Holder and et al.
BobScuba on December 8, 2011 at 10:01 AM
I can only imagine the MSM horror if someone were to say “Reichstag fire:”
“Have these Tea Party extremists no shame?”
PersonFromPorlock on December 8, 2011 at 10:01 AM
So the Sgt Schlutz defense is alive and well! But how many days in a row would this be above the folder in the New York Times if they considered a federal program to run guns into Mexico and launder drug cartel money news? (Remember, this was the newspaper of record that ran front page stories about the US Open 4,000 days in a row.)
Fred 2 on December 8, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Holder bringing up previous admin, natch
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Watching Holder dance. This is fun.
dirtseller on December 8, 2011 at 10:06 AM
8 months ago, Rush said this whole “Fast & Furious” thing was about enforcing gun controll on U.S. citizens. With what I’m hearing today, he was right on (as usual).
dirtseller on December 8, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Holder blaming strawman on scoring political points
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:08 AM
“The difference between reality and fiction is, fiction has to be believable,” -Tom Clancy.
Fast & Furious is obviously reality on this basis.
Akzed on December 8, 2011 at 10:09 AM
What did the president know and when did he know it?
Obama knew enough about something to brag that something was being done covertly that could be used to call for more gun control.
So who briefed Obama, and what was the briefing about?
Skandia Recluse on December 8, 2011 at 10:11 AM
There, truth out.
Sir Napsalot on December 8, 2011 at 10:13 AM
First question about kagan and obamacare
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Holder: “This Fast and Furious thing was really messed up, eh? Let’s say we get all the guns from Americans and put them in the hands of the Government, where they belong. That will solve the problem.”
dirtseller on December 8, 2011 at 10:14 AM
“On Oct. 31 of this year, Lanny Breuer, assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division”
If anyone saw 60 Minutes this past Sun. and the Citigroup mortgage scandal, you would conclude this dude is 100% weasel…
hillsoftx on December 8, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Dang it, they cut to commercial
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Time to start shredding past schedules.
dirtseller on December 8, 2011 at 10:16 AM
LIAR, LIAR, LIAR! Of course “we just followed what the previous admin has done.”
Oh, I just hate this man!
BTW, it’s on cspan 3 with no commercials.
Bambi on December 8, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Who’s the better tap dancer—Eric Holder or Sammy Davis Junior in his prime?
dirtseller on December 8, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Issa and Grassely are playing this as politics, for what they can get out of the democrats in the way of concessions and compromises in the future. They don’t give a damn if any laws were broken or who died and they sure as hell are not going to attempt to prosecute anyone of any significance. Holder should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and Obama should be impeached over this.
SWalker on December 8, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Yeah. How convenient. These investigations could take YEARS.
Say, until 2016.
Too bad the Mexican government has been silent, when they should be at the bar of the World Court demanding answers.
GarandFan on December 8, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Thanks bambi
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Yeah! Cut it out! It’s not like he fired a handful of US Attorneys that were political appointees to begin with, or anything yucky! Sheesh!
/s
Dexter_Alarius on December 8, 2011 at 10:23 AM
As bad as the scum in and around the white house is,and it pretty darn bad, its only possible by the equal co-consperiters in the media. I get to the point where I feel my head exploding with the silence and out right lies that come from them. It is just as important to take back the fourth estate as it is the government, if we are to preserve this country for future generations.
txdonboy on December 8, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Screw up, move up.
jackmac on December 8, 2011 at 10:29 AM
IG investigation takes precedents per holder
Translation:delay, delay, delay
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Berman, oh brother….
sandspur on December 8, 2011 at 10:35 AM
The Democrats are taking their turn defending Holder and the DOJ in this tragic episode live online here. You might as well be watching Hardball when these lemmings are talking.
Rovin on December 8, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Is it on C-Span?
iurockhead on December 8, 2011 at 10:41 AM
I’m with you. At this point, I am a huge Newt fan BECAUSE he is calling out the media consistently. I will vote for whoever is the standard bearer for the GOP in the general, but I want the fighter if I have my way.
Really, this entire scandal is part of the out of control government and cronyism that permeates every aspect of government agencies. Cronyism can be about protecting turf too, and creating work that protects jobs, which we see every day in NYS with the various mandates bestowed upon us, the foolish taxpayers.
piglet on December 8, 2011 at 10:45 AM
I just turned it on over on FOX NEWS, but they must be having a break or something.
tinkerthinker on December 8, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Cspan 3
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 10:54 AM
…. and Attorney General Gonzalez was forced to resign despite no evidence ever having been presented that he misled Congress in any way. THAT was a witch hunt. In this case there is ample evidence that Congress was misled yet Holder has the arrogance to stand his ground and blame the Daily Caller for heaven’s sake. What a joke.
Magnum on December 8, 2011 at 10:57 AM
They’re on a lunchbreak……probably from 11 to 1, with a few martinis.
Rovin on December 8, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Yepper Rovin
cmsinaz on December 8, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Holder is protecting his staff to protect himself, Emperor Zero and his string puller, Valerie.
Mr. Issa, please don’t allow these people to gt away with murder, and quite possibly treason.
dogsoldier on December 8, 2011 at 11:20 AM
They ask questions for 30 minutes and go on a break, what appears to be over an hour!!! These people are the biggest joke! No wonder NOTHING ever get accomplished!
Zcat on December 8, 2011 at 11:26 AM
The Mexicans will forgive us when they get amnesty.
/calculation
roy_batty on December 8, 2011 at 11:27 AM
A simple question is in order. “Secretary General Holder we believe that Mr. Brian Terry was murdered and that someone within this government was an accessory to murder and we would like to charge him or her as such, based on this we need a name of the person or person’s we should bring up on murder charges could you please tell us who is the responsible party to be brought up for those charges”?
jmw on December 8, 2011 at 11:38 AM
It seems Holder met with Issa earlier today and expressed in no uncertain terms his desire to fully cooperate with this investigation.
In another high-profile hearing, Jon Corzine seems to be taking a different approach.
BKeyser on December 8, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Sammy Davis Jr. No question about it. Holder can’t keep step with his head so far up his a$$. Plus his tongue keeps tripping him up.
Oldnuke on December 8, 2011 at 11:41 AM
I set myself up every time oversight committee has one of these hearing. I actually fool myself in to thinking, hard questions are going to be ask, and Holder is going to be made to answer. The last hearing was a joke, and this is turning out to be an even bigger joke. However, at least Issac should up for this one.
Zcat on December 8, 2011 at 11:45 AM
As things stand, Holder cannot simply be arrested as a result of evidence that he misled Congress. Since he is the senior law enforcement officer of the nation, he must be removed from office first. He is subject to the rules of impeachment, which would include, if completed successfully, a federal conviction. He could then be subjected to further felony charges, as long as they were not included in the impeachment indictment (double jeopardy).
Freelancer on December 8, 2011 at 11:51 AM
The way I see it, there are three possible defenses Holder can use here:
“I was criminally evil”
“I was criminally inept at my position”
“I was criminally stupid”
Notice what each has in common, and each should end with immediate removal from office at minimum. The man should be in jail. Instead he’ll Blame Bush™ and avoid even a slap on the wrist.
WhaleBellied on December 8, 2011 at 12:02 PM
It is not illegal, unless you get caught.
It is still not illegal, unless a prosecutor files charges.
It is still not illegal, unless a Judge agrees to hear the case.
It is still not illegal, unless there is a trial.
It is still not illegal, unless you are found unanimously guilty by the jury.
It is still not illegal, if the Judge sets aside the conviction.
And then it is illegal, but the President can pardon you.
Holder’s Federal agents probably won’t “catch” him.
Holder’s US Attorney’s certainly won’t charge him.
Obama’s appointed Judge’s probably won’t hear the case.
Obama’s follower’s won’t find Holder guilty.
And do you think the guy who got Marc Rich pardoned by Bill Clinton won’t get a Pardon by Obama?
barnone on December 8, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Maxine Waters…?
… Vomit!
Seven Percent Solution on December 8, 2011 at 12:06 PM
One thing I have always wondered about this. If in fact Holder didn’t really know the specifics on F&F initially, why didn’t he get to know the program in detail the minute it was determined Agent Terry was killed with guns from the program? Or at least admit to as much during questioning.
JAGonzo on December 8, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I suggest Scatman Caruthers as a better model for Holder. Just click the link.
BobMbx on December 8, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Congressman Hank Johnson is very entertaining in a scary/disgusting kind of way…
d1carter on December 8, 2011 at 12:22 PM
So I missed it. Did Waters actually say Bush started this and Holder didn’t disagree?
sandee on December 8, 2011 at 12:36 PM
When reading statements from the White House, you just have to know how to parse them and insert the appropriate thought bubbles (clarification shown in bold):
AZfederalist on December 8, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Yep, that’s the administration story and they are sticking to it. Never mind the fact that Operation Wide Receiver was working in concert with the Mexican government. Never mind the fact that, no matter how ineptly, at least ATF was attempting to track the guns and had [ineptly] installed RFID capabilities into the weapons. Never mind the fact that this was an order of magnitude smaller number of guns. Never mind the fact that this operation didn’t work so well.
Other than that, yeah, exactly the same thing.
AZfederalist on December 8, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Holder should be in prison protecting his own backside there.
jqc1970 on December 8, 2011 at 12:41 PM
By the way no mention in the headlines that this hearing is taking place at all.
sandee on December 8, 2011 at 12:46 PM
When DOJ breaks the law why aren’t there protestors with pitchforks and torches on their front steps demanding their heads?
billrowe on December 8, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Wow..been listening off and on…does Holder know anything about what’s going on in his department? I wonder what..
tinkerthinker on December 8, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Is it true that Issa wanted to make Holder testify under oath and he was denied?
sandee on December 8, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Who in his department would he allow to authorize actions of this magnitude? I doubt any of them.
dogsoldier on December 8, 2011 at 2:00 PM
I think Grassely and Issa are risking their lives for this. Are you nuts!
Bambi on December 8, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Rep. Sandy Adams absolutely ripping holder to shreds. Beautiful.
I wish some of the others were as tough as this lady.
novaculus on December 8, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Didn’t you mean cover his azz? The Sgt. Schultz defense seems to be the tactic of the day on Capitol Hill.
Kissmygrits on December 8, 2011 at 8:29 PM