STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD OF

DEPARTMENT of JUSTICE ^ | FEBRUARY 2, 2012 | ERIC H. HOLDER, JR.

[Rabin]

Over the last three years, we’ve made a number of significant improvements, including policy and personnel changes… the steps that we have taken to ensure that the flawed tactics used in Operation Fast and Furious – and in earlier operations under the prior Administration – are never again used.

We also have provided Congress with documents to show how inaccurate information was initially conveyed in a letter sent to Senator Grassley on February 4, 2011. These documents (intended to) ) show that Department officials relied on information provided by supervisors from the relevant components in the best position to know the facts. We now know (now) that some of the information they provided was inaccurate.

In producing internal communications … the Department made a rare, limited exception to longstanding Executive Branch policy to respond, in the most comprehensive way possible…and put to rest questions

As I testified in a previous hearing, the Department does not intend to produce additional deliberative materials about the response to congressional oversight…

In 2011, a majority of House Members voted to keep law enforcement in the dark when individuals purchase multiple semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and long guns… We’ve developed and distributed 8,000 Officer Safety Toolkits… (for) state, local, and tribal authorities

I look forward to discussing this, and I would be pleased to answer your questions.

[Rabin]

Chairman Issa Hearing Preview Statement Over the past year, the ATF program known as Operation Fast and Furious has been the subject of a joint investigation by this committee and Sen. Chuck Grassley, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. When this investigation began, the Department of Justice took the position that allegations by whistleblowers about reckless tactics and decision making in this operation were false. http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1573%3A2-2-2012-qfast-a-furious-management-failures-at-the-department-of-justiceq&catid=12&Itemid=20

Raben

[MestaMachine]

Get out the mega barf bags, y’all. You are gonna LOVE this!

Ping

[MestaMachine]

Hotlink:

http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1573%3A2-2-2012-qfast-a-furious-management-failures-at-the-department-of-justiceq&catid=12&Itemid=20

[GladesGuru]

Just in time for early spring fertilizing of my garden!

I knew Democraps were good for something, but until know I didn’t know what.

[MestaMachine]

even fertilizrs intimates they might be good fo something. I disagree. Spent a LOT of time trying to find something on this earth that serves no useful purpose whatsover. Zip. Zero. Nada.
Found it.
democrats and muslims=’mormon’ crickets.

No offense to Mormons...at least not as far as these mindless insects go...

[Old Sarge]

The entire text of Holder’s statement:

YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT
YOU’RE RACIST
YOU’RE A BIGOT

[Razz Barry]

If some of my comments today sound familiar, it is because this marks the sixth time I have answered questions about this operation before a congressional committee in the last year. Let me start, however, with something that cannot be said often enough: allowing guns to “walk” – whether in this Administration or in the prior one – is wholly unacceptable. This tactic of not interdicting weapons, despite having the ability and legal authority to do so, appears to have been adopted in a misguided effort to stem the alarming number of illegal firearms that are trafficked each year from the United States to Mexico. To be sure, stopping this dangerous flow of weapons is a laudable – and critical – goal. But attempting to achieve it by using such inappropriate tactics is neither acceptable nor excusable.

Seems to me he's saying they had the "legal authority" to send guns into another country to kill its citizens without informing the leaders of that country. Reading between lines he's saying, Bush did it too, I don't have to tell you anything I don't want to, you've bothered me enough about this, I can do what ever I want, you guys even said it was ok, a few dead Mexicans and law enforcement peons are ok with me.

[Rabin]

GG, “I knew Democraps were good for something”

Good to be where faith springs eternal. Howsomever, rab has observed that BS maketh but weeds.

r.

[thouworm]

I don’t think this is going to be on C-SPAN tomorrow!!! Not on any of the 3 C-SPAN channel line-ups! Can this be possible? I assume C-Span will rebroadcast later in the day. Prime time?

Issa has set up a live feed here:

http://www.fastnfuriousinvestigation.com/2012/02/attorney-general-eric-holder-will.html

[thouworm]

BTW: From your link:

• The Justice Department has delivered fewer than 8% of the 80,000 documents we know it has identified as being related to this flawed operation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thus the change in procedures to make it even MORE difficult for Issa to get any F&F docs from the Holder.

[MestaMachine]

Thank you. I don’t wanna miss THIS for nothing!

[MestaMachine]

Hopefully some wittle boidies have been tweeting in Issa’s ear.

[thouworm]

Too bad Issa can’t stage a raid on the DOJ and turn the place upside down to get his docs-— and a few of the perps’ home computers also.

[thouworm]

Ping to thread (Holder’s opening statement) AND...

I don’t think this is going to be on C-SPAN tomorrow!!! As of this hour, it is not on any of the 3 C-SPAN channel line-ups!

However, Issa has set up a live feed here. Hearing begins at 9am, EST:

http://www.fastnfuriousinvestigation.com/2012/02/attorney-general-eric-holder-will.html

[LucyT]

Late Night Ping.

Hearing begins at 9AM, EST. - Check out # 14 for LINK to live feed.

Thanks thouworm, and MM.

[malia]

a grown man saying ... he (President Bush) did it first..

Paragraph #2 (last sentence) “Today, I’d like to discuss some of these improvements in specific terms – and outline the steps that we have taken to ensure that the flawed tactics used in Operation Fast and Furious – and in earlier operations under the prior Administration – are never again used.”

Paragraph #3(2nd sentence) “Let me start, however, with something that cannot be said often enough: allowing guns to “walk” – whether in this Administration or in the prior one – is wholly unacceptable.”

[MissMagnolia]

DOJ still withholding 74,000 documents. Issa just issued a letter to to Holder Jan. 31: comply or detailed privilege log explaining why the Department is refusing to produce each document .... if not provided will move forward with contempt of Congress proceedings. Deadline is 5:00 p.m., Feb. 9.

[MissMagnolia]

Thanks for the link - maybe you could set up a ‘live’ thread tomorrow with the link (?)

[Flotsam_Jetsome]

Thanks for the Late Night Ping. Fasten seat belts everyone.

We could shortly experience some turbulence.

[thouworm]

Holder is already squealing like a stuck pig, while, at the same time, using his power to try to obfuscate and bury the paper trail that leads directly to his, optimistically speaking, soon to be shackled feet.

Justice official says congressional deadline for more Fast and Furious documents ‘impossible

Justice Department changes inquiry response procedures to Congress after Fast and Furious --- [Fri, Jan 28, 2012]

And, as you noted, Issa's "contempt letter" [read here] was sent to Holder on Jan 31, 2012.