Issa Releases draft of Eric Holder's Contempt Citation

Rep. Darrell Issa and the Oversight Committee he chairs has just released a draft of the contempt citation that it is preparing to issue to Attorney General Eric Holder with regard to the Fast and Furious investigation. There are many angles to this story but a central theme in this contempt order is Holder's refusal to release any documents dated after February 4, 2011. That date is significant because it's the date on a letter signed by Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich to Issa and Senator Charles Grassley.

Ten months after that letter was signed, the Justice Department rescinded it, essentially admitting that it contained lies. Issa wants to know the details surrounding those lies by compelling production of documents after that date. He hasn't received any of them and Holder has insisted they won't be released, which makes this contempt citation an extremely interesting development. While on Fox News about thirty minutes ago, Issa said he would not go through with issuing the citation if Holder complied with the subpoena. A statement from DOJ - read by Bill Hemmer - during Issa's appearance on Fox (video to follow as soon as it's posted) seemed to indicate that Holder won't comply but that could change.

Here is a portion of the email I received from Issa's office this morning:

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) has distributed a staff briefing paper and draft of the contempt of Congress resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder to Members of the Oversight Committee.  The briefing paper explains what happened in Operation Fast and Furious, the hardships faced by the family of fallen Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in getting truthful answers about his death, how agents who blew the whistle on the reckless operation have faced retaliation, and the carnage in Mexico that Fast and Furious has helped fuel.

“This briefing paper and draft contempt report explains the case, to both Members of the Committee and the American people, for holding Attorney General Holder in contempt of Congress,” said Issa. “In describing the results of the Justice Department’s refusal to cooperate – including the hardships the family of a fallen Border Patrol agent have faced in seeking the truth, and retaliation against agents who blew the whistle on gunwalking – this briefing paper provides the facts, on which decisions will be made.”

Here is a copy of the memorandum and the draft of the contempt citation. Check out page 7 for details about why documents post-February 4, 2011 are such an issue.

More to follow...