House Plans Holder Contempt Votes Today

The House is moving ahead today with contempt of Congress votes against Attorney General Eric Holder over the botched gun-tracking operation known as Fast and Furious.

A criminal contempt resolution would send the matter to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, who is under Holder.

A civil contempt resolution would allow the House to go to court to try to force Holder to turn over certain documents the Oversight committee is requesting.

The House is unlikely to get the documents anytime soon, because President Barack Obama has invoked executive privilege, which protects internal documents in executive branch agencies from disclosure.

Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa says closure is needed for the family of a U.S. border agent who was killed in a firefight with Mexican bandits in 2010. Two guns from Fast and Furious were found at the scene.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)