Atty. Gen. Eric Holder in the Hot Seat

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 14, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

             Facing Contempt of Congress charges for stonewalling on the “Fast and Furious” gun-walking government sting operation, 61-year-old Atty. Gen. Eric Holder refused to honor a House Government Reform and Oversight Committee subpoena. Committee Chairman Rep. Darrrell Isssa (R-Calif.), one of the most partisan members of Congress, warned Holder that he faces a Contempt of Congress vote June 20 if he doesn’t cough up the requested documents. “His failure to produce documents specified in the Committee’s Oct. 12, 2011 subpoena,” related to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Operation “Fast and Furious,” read the Committee’s statement. Started in 2006 as “Operation Wide Receiver,” the ATF and Justice Department under form U.S. Atty. Gen. Michael Mukassey tried to snare Mexican drug lords by using gun dealer Michael Detting to bait for the drug cartels.

             Holder believes, as other administration officials, that Republicans on the Committee are grandstanding during an election year to give President Barack Obama a big fat black eye. “Congress has an obligation to investigate unanswered questions about attempts to smear whistleblowers, failure by Justice Department officials to be truthful and candid with the congressional investigation, and the reasons for the significant delay in acknowledging reckless conduct in Operation Fast and Furious,” read Issa’s statement. While there’s nothing unusual in Issa’s statement, the election-year timing raises eyebrows. Sting operations, like Bush’s “Operation Wide Receiver” or Obama’s “Operation Fast and Furious,” were banned by Congress because they often backfire. Reports indicate that Operations “Wide Receiver” and “Fast and Furious” handed abundant U.S. firearms to the Mexican drug mob.

             Issa has been gunning for Holder since he denied May 3, 2011 before his Committee knowing anything about “Operation Fast and Furious.” Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee June 11, holder faced an angry mob of GOP senators calling for his resignation. “I’m afraid we’ve come to an impasse,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), saying Holder “violated the public trust.” “With regret, you’ve left me with no choice but to join those who call for you to resign your office,” said Cornyn, all based on Holder’s reluctance to release documents and alleged discrepancies in his testimony. Holder told Cornyn and other GOP Committee members, “I don’t have any intention of resigning.” Calling GOP allegations “almost breathtaking” in their distortions, Holder offered the Committee more cooperation with regard to honoring the subpoena but offered no time frame.

           Like so many other well-intentioned government sting operations, Operations “Wide Receiver” and “Fast and Furious” didn’t snare the high-ranking Mexican drug lords as originally planned. Whether it’s AG’s Holder or Mukassey, failed sting operations are an embarrassment to any administration. When you add the closeness of this year’s election, any adverse publicity can sabotage either party’s political ambitions. “Fast and Furious” hit the skids in Dec. 2010 when 40-year-old U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed by the Mexican drug mafia with traceable U.S. weapons. “Here we are one years later, and the Terry family is still waiting for answers. They’re still waiting for justice,” said Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), blaming Holder for stonewalling the Committee’s subpoena. Grassley contends that Hold knew about “Operation Fast and Furious” before May 3, 2011 testimony.

          Rep. Issa wants to know why the DOJ retracted a Feb. 4, 2011 letter denying knowledge of “Operation Fast and Furious.” “From the beginning, Chairman Issa has distorted the facts, ignored testimony and flung inaccurate accusations at the Attorney General and others, and this latest move fits within that tired political playbook that has so many Americans disillusioned with Washington,” said DOJ spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler. Schmaler’s hyperbole raises other red flags. If Holder had given Issa the requested docs, he wouldn’t face the possible censure vote. Issa’s Committee also wants to investigate certain leaks that exposed a U.S. covert program to cyber-attack Iran’s centrifuge-based nuclear enrichment program. Under pressure last week, Holder appointed D.C. U.S. Atty. Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Maryland U.S. Atty. Rod. J. Rosenstein to investigate.

         Whether or not Holder turns over the docs on “Operation Fast and Furious” or faces censure June 20, the failed sting operation still embarrasses the White House. Before now and the Nov. 6 election, Republicans will pull out all stops to embarrass the president. “The desire here is not for accommodation, but for political point-making,” said Holder, in response to recent GOP grandstanding. “The thing that turns people off about Washington,” dismissing GOP document requests as nothing more than election year politics. Whether it’s theater or not, Holder left the White House vulnerable by failing to respond to the House’s subpoena and recent request by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for a special prosecutor to look into classified White House leaks. Any bad publicity hurts the White House in an election year, raising just one more doubt about giving Obama a second term.

©1999-2012 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.