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Second thoughts? Reporter says Eric Holder is "soul searching" after signing off on snooping
The Blaze ^ | May 28, 2013

Posted on 05/28/2013 10:23:04 AM PDT by Rennes Templar

Attorney General Eric Holder has been under intense fire lately, having to answer for his involvement in several scandals, including two separate media cases with the Associated Press and a Fox News reporter. But now a new report paints him as deeply convicted — even sorry — over at least one of them.

Although Holder had recused himself of the case where phone records of several Associates Press editors and reporters were obtained, he personally signed off on the search warrant that allowed emails from Fox News’ James Rosen to be released. Rosen was not made aware of the warrant for his emails, which were part of an investigation of State Department adviser Stephen Kim, who faces charges of leaking secret information about North Korea.

The Daily Beast in a recent feature said Holder is “soul searching,” wondering if he should have signed for Rosen’s emails in the first place. It stated the “gravity of the situation” to Holder didn’t really hit him until Monday last week when he read the Washington Post’s report exposing the affidavit that labeled Rosen as “at the very least … an aider, abettor and/or co-conspirator.”

“Holder knew that Justice would be besieged by the twin leak probes; but, according to aides, he was also beginning to feel a creeping sense of personal remorse,” the Daily Beast reported of Holder after he had read the Washington Post’s article.

It stated that sources close to Holder claim he is “stung by the leak controversy.”

Ideas — not excuses — for why he did sign off on the warrant for Rosen’s emails are offered by the Daily Beast, such as the pressure to investigate and prevent leaks by the administration and gaps in the DOJ’s guidelines:

But ultimately none of that fully explains why Holder would have signed off on such a controversial search warrant. Holder, his aides say, believes there may also be a cultural factor at the root of his decision. Prosecutors tend to have a somewhat insular mindset, not always able to see clearly beyond the walls of their cases. They are often dogged investigators, trained to vacuum up as much evidence as possible to sustain convictions in courts of law. That sometimes means taking maximum advantage of every law and procedural rule. It also can mean seeing every activity of those in their sights through a more sinister lens than may be justified.

Holder and the Justice Department have said they will be conducting investigations into both cases and are taking more proactive measures to restore the Justice Department’s reputation.

“While both of these cases were handled within the law and according to Justice Department guidelines,” Holder told The Daily Beast, “they are reminders of the unique role the news media plays in our democratic system, and signal that both our laws and guidelines need to be updated.”

“This is an opportunity for the department to consider how we strike the right balance between the interests of law enforcement and freedom of the press,” he said.

To start, Holder is inviting major media representatives to meet, perhaps this week, in an effort to get their thoughts and ideas about updating the department’s leak investigation guidelines.

“Look, Eric sees himself fundamentally as a progressive, not some Torquemada out to silence the press,” an unidentified friend said, referencing a famous chief inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ap; bho44; bhodoj; bigot; criminal; doj; dojphonescandal; foxnews; holder; holderperjury; racist; rosen; threatmatrix
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To: Rennes Templar

Shouldn’t take too long.


21 posted on 05/28/2013 10:40:13 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (zerogottago)
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To: Rennes Templar

The US Attorney General is disappointed in what Eric Holder has done but doesn’t think he should resign.


22 posted on 05/28/2013 10:42:16 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Obama: What did I not know and when did I not know it?)
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To: Rennes Templar; Revolting cat!

Blame it on the autopen.


23 posted on 05/28/2013 10:45:46 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: Rennes Templar

He can feel stung about it sitting in a jail cell.


24 posted on 05/28/2013 10:46:05 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

He’s searching deep - in his law books - to figure out a way to wiggle out of this mess he created.


25 posted on 05/28/2013 10:46:59 AM PDT by Rennes Templar (The true Obama persona is emerging, the one from his first Presidential debate.)
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To: Rennes Templar

That reptile has no soul to search.


26 posted on 05/28/2013 10:49:10 AM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: Paladin2

Didn’t Holder ignore voter intimidation of whites by the Black Panthers too? The MSM might want to go back and take a look at that situation too.


27 posted on 05/28/2013 10:49:40 AM PDT by GOPJ (Swedes bring their cars..savages their flames..burning cars a metaphor. D. Greenfield)
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To: Rennes Templar
He's busted but please just don't send home with pay.

This man is a crook. He's the top law enforcement over ALL of us. This man should go to jail.

28 posted on 05/28/2013 10:52:58 AM PDT by Christie at the beach
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To: Rennes Templar

He has a soul? Who knew?


29 posted on 05/28/2013 10:53:44 AM PDT by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: All

IMO, he’s in the process of being offered a nice golden parachute and will resign very, very soon.


30 posted on 05/28/2013 10:59:29 AM PDT by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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To: Rennes Templar
He is only soul searching because he realized this could actually cost him his job, and more important, all the trappings! Big office, lots of perks, doting assistants, security. He's just like his boss, in it for the bling.

Guy is a Constitutional Wrecking Crew. What a waste of 4 1/2 years.

31 posted on 05/28/2013 11:02:13 AM PDT by dan on the right
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To: Rennes Templar

Leftoids are almost always repentant once they are caught.

Well..... maybe not.

But at least they sometimes act repentant.

Well..... At least some of them.

Okay - maybe just a few.


32 posted on 05/28/2013 11:03:54 AM PDT by Iron Munro (Obama-Ville - Land of The Freebies, Home of the Enslaved)
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To: Rennes Templar

Wouldn’t that be racist or something - “soul searching”? Can we say that? /s


33 posted on 05/28/2013 11:06:27 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Socialism consumes everything. Bolshies' gonna bolsh.)
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To: newnhdad

He won’t resign. Fast and Furious. He lied, was called back and said he misspoke. He was given a pass. He will no doubt be given the same exact pass because to do else wise would be racist.


34 posted on 05/28/2013 11:09:11 AM PDT by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Martin Luther King Jr. Isn't The Only One With A Dream


35 posted on 05/28/2013 11:10:39 AM PDT by Iron Munro (Obama-Ville - Land of The Freebies, Home of the Enslaved)
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To: Rennes Templar

“But now a new report paints him as deeply convicted”

I don’t think he has been officially convicted of anything yet - but this too shall pass! ;-)


36 posted on 05/28/2013 11:11:06 AM PDT by fremont_steve
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To: Rennes Templar

People shouldn’t be a protected class of people for being a Democrat or for being a black person.

By their own actions and merits you either praise them or throw them out on a case by case basis.

Why isn’t this process all color and party blind?

The American people are being shafted IMO.


37 posted on 05/28/2013 11:16:17 AM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Rennes Templar
But now a new report paints him as deeply convicted

I see what they're doing there.

38 posted on 05/28/2013 11:19:47 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Blather. Reince. Repeat.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Kind of sad, after all these years of On the Job Training and they still haven’t learned their job. I hope at least Eric is bouncing around the idea in his rat shaped head that he is incompetent.


39 posted on 05/28/2013 11:20:07 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (zerogottago)
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To: Rennes Templar

‘Second thoughts’ doesn’t excuse anyone from WHAT THEY DID.


40 posted on 05/28/2013 11:20:44 AM PDT by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
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