Eric Holder to Face Contempt Charges?

Rep. Darrel Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, is publicly circulating a briefing paper and draft contempt-of-Congress resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder over the Department of Justice’s stonewalling in the investigation into the gun-walking scandal known as Operation Fast and Furious.

True to form, Holder is shrugging off the threat and calling foul.

A lawyer for DOJ sent a letter in which he said the department “strongly disputes” the assertion that it has not been cooperating with Congress. He pointed out that the DOJ has provided over 7,600 pages of documents to congressional investigators so far and allowed numerous department officials to testify. He then cited Bush and Reagan administration arguments against releasing information about ongoing investigations to Congress and about releasing information about how members of the department planned to deal with a congressional investigation. He concluded by saying that it looks like Issa is more interested in political gamesmanship than working toward a mutually satisfactory agreement.

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