Two Democratic lawmakers joined Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC's PoliticsNation Wednesday to slam today's vote by House Republicans holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress.
"[Holder] is being chewed up for something that is just so non-existent that people around the country ought to be outraged," Rep. Emanuel Cleaver told Rev. Al. "This is partisanship at its most base level. It is an insult, I think, to the body politic and to this nation."
Republicans in the House Oversight Committee have demanded that Holder release a trove of documents relating to the Fast and Furious gun-running operation carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
During the hearing earlier today, Rep. Jackie Speier went so far as to personally offer regrets to the country about what she labelled a partisan witch-hunt. "I want to apologize to the American people for yet another show of gotcha politics in this body," said Speier, who joined Cleaver on the show.
Holder has turned over 7,600 pages of documents relating to Fast and Furious, but Republicans in Congress, led by Oversight Committee Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA), are demanding more. Democrats say they support that they support probing the ATF for the Fast and Furious gun-walking fiasco, but argue that the effort to target Holder doesn't advance that goal.
Late Update: Rep. Carolyn Maloney tells MSNBC's Ed Schultz that the Republicans' "actions are extreme, unprecedented and politically motivated."
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There is no doubt this is a witch hunt and to throw Eric Holder under the bus. I doubt they have read all the 7,600 pages yet ! I think there is a national security issue attached to this and he can not, must not give them what they want. Hang tough Mr Holder. Those that would burn you at the stake are not seeing th whole picture. Life is a gamble you win some and loose some.
He only needs to tell congress two things. Which of his cronies authorized it, and which one lied to congress about it.
It can't harm any criminal prosecutions, you must turn over all evidence to the accused, so how could finding out you are the accused harm anything. The two criminals should already know they are the culprits.
Please read this speech from the DOJ website:
Attorney General Eric Holder at the Mexico/United States Arms Trafficking Conference
CUERNAVACA, MEXICO ~ Thursday, April 2, 2009
Remarks as prepared for delivery.
First, let me express my thanks to Attorney General Medina Mora and Secretary of Government Gomez Mont for making this
conference possible.
This is my first trip to another country as Attorney General. I wanted to come to Mexico to deliver a single message:
We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this fight against the narcotics cartels. The United States shares
responsibility for this problem and we will take responsibility by joining our Mexican counterparts in every step of this
fight.
And, together, we will win – thanks in large part to the courage of my Mexican colleagues here today, who are on the
front lines every day, and with whom I am proud to collaborate.
The topic that has been addressed over the past two days could not be more important – the development of an arms
trafficking prosecution and enforcement strategy on both sides of the border.
I would like to thank the Mexican and U.S. experts who have worked so hard on this issue. On our side, Secretary
Napolitano and I are committed to putting the resources in place to increase our attack on arms trafficking into Mexico.
Last week, our administration launched a major new effort to break the backs of the cartels. My department is committing
100 new ATF personnel to the Southwest border in the next 100 days to supplement our ongoing Project Gunrunner, DEA is
adding 16 new positions on the border, as well as mobile enforcement teams, and the FBI is creating a new intelligence
group focusing on kidnapping and extortion. DHS is making similar commitments, as Secretary Napolitano will detail.
But as today’s conference has emphasized, the problem of arms trafficking will not be stopped at the border alone.
Rather, as our experts emphasized, this is a problem that must be met as part of a comprehensive attack against the cartels
– an attack in depth, on both sides of the border, that focuses on the leadership and assets of the cartel. This is the
type of full-bore, prosecution-driven approach that the U.S. Department of Justice took to dismantle La Cosa Nostra – once
the most powerful organized crime group operating in the United States.
With partners like those we have here today, I am confident that together, we will defeat these narcotics cartels in
exactly the same way. I am proud to stand with you, and to join you in this fight. Thank you again for inviting me here.
Quiero que el pueblo Mexicano sepa que mi nación está con ustedes en la lucha contra los narcotraficantes.
México y los Estados Unidos comparten mas que una frontera—compartimos cultura, sangre e intereses comunes. Somos hermanos
unidos contra una batalla que ganaremos.
Tenemos que aprender de uno a otro, trabajar juntos y luchar juntos. Si hacemos estas cosas, si nos dedicamos juntos a
esta lucha, no tengo duda que tendremos éxito.
Please read this speech from the DOJ website:
Attorney General Eric Holder at the Mexico/United States Arms Trafficking Conference
CUERNAVACA, MEXICO ~ Thursday, April 2, 2009
Remarks as prepared for delivery.
First, let me express my thanks to Attorney General Medina Mora and Secretary of Government Gomez Mont for making this
conference possible.
This is my first trip to another country as Attorney General. I wanted to come to Mexico to deliver a single message:
We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this fight against the narcotics cartels. The United States shares
responsibility for this problem and we will take responsibility by joining our Mexican counterparts in every step of this
fight.
And, together, we will win – thanks in large part to the courage of my Mexican colleagues here today, who are on the
front lines every day, and with whom I am proud to collaborate.
The topic that has been addressed over the past two days could not be more important – the development of an arms
trafficking prosecution and enforcement strategy on both sides of the border.
I would like to thank the Mexican and U.S. experts who have worked so hard on this issue. On our side, Secretary
Napolitano and I are committed to putting the resources in place to increase our attack on arms trafficking into Mexico.
Last week, our administration launched a major new effort to break the backs of the cartels. My department is committing
100 new ATF personnel to the Southwest border in the next 100 days to supplement our ongoing Project Gunrunner, DEA is
adding 16 new positions on the border, as well as mobile enforcement teams, and the FBI is creating a new intelligence
group focusing on kidnapping and extortion. DHS is making similar commitments, as Secretary Napolitano will detail.
But as today’s conference has emphasized, the problem of arms trafficking will not be stopped at the border alone.
Rather, as our experts emphasized, this is a problem that must be met as part of a comprehensive attack against the cartels
– an attack in depth, on both sides of the border, that focuses on the leadership and assets of the cartel. This is the
type of full-bore, prosecution-driven approach that the U.S. Department of Justice took to dismantle La Cosa Nostra – once
the most powerful organized crime group operating in the United States.
With partners like those we have here today, I am confident that together, we will defeat these narcotics cartels in
exactly the same way. I am proud to stand with you, and to join you in this fight. Thank you again for inviting me here.
Quiero que el pueblo Mexicano sepa que mi nación está con ustedes en la lucha contra los narcotraficantes.
México y los Estados Unidos comparten mas que una frontera—compartimos cultura, sangre e intereses comunes. Somos hermanos
unidos contra una batalla que ganaremos.
Tenemos que aprender de uno a otro, trabajar juntos y luchar juntos. Si hacemos estas cosas, si nos dedicamos juntos a
esta lucha, no tengo duda que tendremos éxito.
Does anyone ever THINK about the fact that there may be some National Security issue involved here, or that if some things were made public, it might put American lives in danger? Some things are better left alone. The embarrassment has already been way over publicized!!