Obama Asserts Executive Privilege in Gun-Trafficking Rift

Wall Street Journal ^ | June 20, 2012 | EVAN PEREZ

[lbryce]

The White House asserted executive privilege Wednesday over some gun-trafficking-probe documents sought by congressional Republicans, throwing into uncertainty a possible vote to sanction Attorney General Eric Holder with contempt of Congress.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the contempt fight. The panel's chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), said the committee was evaluating the White House's assertion.

In a letter to Mr. Issa, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the president had asserted the privilege to block the documents from being released, but he held out the possibility of negotiating an agreement over the documents.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R., Iowa) criticized the White House. "How can the president exert executive privilege over documents he's supposedly never seen?" Mr. Grassley said.

Messrs. Issa and Holder met Tuesday for 20 minutes. From their accounts, it has become a game of chicken, with each side insisting the other act first to resolve the standoff.

Mr. Holder said Mr. Issa rejected his offer to provide documents because the lawmaker wouldn't agree that they would fulfill a subpoena, effectively ending the contempt threat. Mr. Issa said the attorney general didn't come prepared to provide documents and that the contempt threat can't be removed until the documents are produced.

At issue are Justice Department documents that Messrs. Issa and Grassley have sought and that the department resisted turning over in the congressional investigation into a botched gun-trafficking probe called Fast and Furious. The department said the documents reflected internal deliberation or were related to continuing criminal investigations and therefore weren't subject to congressional subpoena.

The dispute centers on a 2009-10 operation run by Arizona-based agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, aimed at building a case against suspected smugglers of firearms to Mexico.

[Foolsgold]

I have thought that Holder would get thrown under the bus or resign, to protect the won. In either case he goes into the park with an empty briefcase...................

[PhilDragoo]

[Terry Mross]

It’s time for another “OH, COME NOW” Award. Michelle Bachman is on the job! She’s going to write a resolution and have it signed by SOME members of congress telling obama he’s not above the law and he’s not above the constitution. Ms. Bachman says this will be a big warning to obama and will have teeth. All I can say is: “Oh, come now, Ms. Bachman.”