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Subscribe to RSSNBC News has obtained a copy of a seven-page letter from House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa to Barack Obama that raises the stakes in the stand-off between Congress and the attorney general.
In the letter, Issa challenges the president's assertion of executive privilege over documents sought by the committee in the "Operation Fast & Furious" investigation.
Issa requests the president provide a formal, legal justification for the privilege claim and a list of specific documents covered by it.
Issa points to case law that maintains executive privilege is reserved for direct presidential decision-making.
The California Republican ratchets up the pressure by stating that either the president's "most senior advisers were involved in managing Operation Fast & Furious ... and the fallout" or the White House is asserting "a presidential power that you know to be unjustified solely for the purpose of further obstructing a congressional investigation."
The letter includes the president's own public statements that neither he nor Holder knew about or authorized the operation.
Issa asks why and the attorney general was offering certain documents last week with the condition that the contempt citation be dropped but the next day those same documents were shielded by executive privilege.
The chairman says there has been no explanation for how Holder could tell the president that releasing the documents would result in "significant damaging consequences" only hours after saying he could provide them to congressional leaders if contempt was off the table.
Rep. Issa: No evidence of White House cover-up in 'Fast and Furious' gun-running case
The chairman goes through the history of the case, the death of border agent Brian Terry and reminds the president that Attorney General Holder provided false information to Congress on Feb. 4, 2011 in a letter that denied the gun operation permitted illegally bought weapons to cross into Mexico.
The Justice Department retracted that denial months later. Issa pointedly states that lying to Congress is a crime itself and says the subpoenaed documents pertain to Holder's denial and internal communications that brought about the subsequent correction.
In a new request, Issa also asks for any communications between the White House and Justice between the date of the false denial and June 18, 2012, the day before privilege was asserted.
Issa rejects criticism that the contempt vote is purely political. He complains that Holder referred to the committee's action as an "election-year tactic."
Issa writes that "nothing could be further from the truth. This statement not only betrays a total lack of understanding of our investigation, it exemplifies the stonewalling we have consistently faced."
Still, the House Oversight Chairman tells the president he is "hopeful the Attorney General will provide the specified documents so that we can work towards resolving this matter short of a contempt citation."
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Issa is a MORON, Issa is a REPUBLICAN, enough said!
Blame Bush. Wow. Talk about diehards. Bush's use of Executive Priv. was in completely different circumstances. For example, he DID NOT use it as the Social Democrats conspired to drive his Atty Genl from his position. I get the biggest laugh, of many, at Liberals whose main defense of their inept president - is to blame the GOP for doing all the things they do. Pelosi was the one who told all Social Democrat Representatives that if they didn't vote straight party line - the DNC would find other candidates to run against them when they came up for re-election. Clinton would have been found guilty during his impeachment if several GOP Senators hadn't crossed the aisle and voted to acquit. The Democrat Party needs to find another country they feel more comfortable with, since their 'change' doesn't work in the USA. Maybe they should take their 20 million illegal immigrants with them and move to Mexico. No Second Amendment there!
Man you gotta love that Pelosi - Poster Girl for the progressives - Her husband has made billions off of her (us) and yet not one single investigation has been able to make it off the ground.
JDON: You conveniently omitted the reason the GOP senators opted to acquit Clinton! Can't wait for the reply!..................Hurry, now!
This is typical GOP/TEA/Dumb FUX NEWS party tactics.
Do nothing for the people except your donors and spend millions of dollars and countless hours on useless investigations that only further divide people.
But I do wonder if GOP/TEA party members are controlled by the rich and powerful that produce Dumb FUX NEWS...
What ever dumb FUX NEWS wants you to believe is fine. We just know what happened during the Clinton years. Endless investigations that were really very expensive witch hunts.
Look at the first decade of the 21st century. Bush had huge majorities in the both houses of congress and on the supreme court and what happenedother than the worst attack on American soil in history while Bush was asleep at the wheel???
So get off your righteous right wing horse and come to Jesus knowing your on the wrong side of reality...
Girard1234, please tell us all why GWB cannot leave the continental U.S.?
Obama is the worst leader we have ever had. Sorry Jimmy Carter but it is true.
this is your brain on dumb FUX NEWS...
Look all the way back to Iran-Contra, which in my opinion was the most serious Constitutional crisis of the last 75 years, and which absolutely nobody ever cared about at all. Beginning there, you can see the clear trajectory of the partisan horror that has destroyed the United States.
When Republicans go to the toilet and defecate some unholy, illegal, stinking foulness and then wipe themselves with the Constitution, they all line up behind the man who produced the wretched turd and pat him on the back for doing the right thing for the country and for our boys in uniform. Democrats call a meeting and sit around doing nothing. The press sits around and does nothing.
When Democrats go to the toilet and defecate some unholy, illegal, stinking foulness and then wipe themselves with the Constitution, the Republicans wrap themselves head to toe in the flag, trot out a massive show of official opprobrium, stamp their feet, threaten impeachment (or even undertake it in the case of Clinton after a six-year witch hunt that spent billions and led nowhere), and sanctimoniously carry on. The press lines up foursquare behind them and carries the story front and center for months. Meanwhile, the Democrats scurry away like the rats they are to hide out in dusty corners and hope the whole thing passes.
The truth is this: every President is a crook. Every member of Congress (save perhaps Bernie Sanders) is a criminal monster. Every Congressional staffer is a bag man, a lackey, a criminal. Except for Bernie, there's not a single person in government today who deserves anything less than the gallows.
Darrell Issa is a thief, a liar, and an America-hating monster. Barack Obama is a spineless tool at the helm of a rudderless ship. Eric Holder is a gangster. Name anyone in Government today - pull up the first thread of the carpet they're walking on and you'll find nothing but rot.
WOW! too much vitriol on the ole' pancakes this morning? Taking anything for depression that works?
I agree with you 100% - bring drugs into America - poison people and then use the money to buy arms - hideous
Kirk, the REAL damage done by Iran-Contra had little to do with drugs or with trading weapons for hostages. It had to do with a President who signed legislation prohibiting funding a group, and who then turned around and funded that group covertly. It had to do with the entire office of the Executive saying, in clear and absolutely certain terms, "we are above the law today and forever."
Since that time, we have without question and without recourse ceased absolutely to be a nation of laws. Clear-eyed historians will look back on that episode, and the utterly tepid reaction to it, as one of the watershed moments that sealed the decline and fall of the United States.
This is going to backfire on Issa, the repubs and Boehner if he allows this vote to go thru in the house. wait and see
November cannot get here soon enough. Obama is an idiot, liar, and a cheat plus he is in waaaay over his head. The Republicans have done this country a major favor by stopping everything they can about the way Obama cheats everyone. Now the check book is empty no matter how hard the Republicans have tried to keep this moron under control, he has found ways to bypass the system. "Doing fine" - Nobama 2012.
Republicans did the country a favor by BLOCKING everything he's done? How about the things THEY proposed, then BLOCKED once he said YES to them???
If you don't think their motives aren't purely political, YOU need an examination!
He sure is Moving FORWARD on Claiming Executive Privilege, So Congress will now have to Move FORWARD and and Vote Holder in Contempt.
He got exactly what anyone could hope to be accomplished in that short time...check the track record.
Some one needs to smack that little girl,trying to act like a man that he has to become the President of the United States to have the privelege of seeing Executive orders. Being head of a girl scout troop made of of California male politicians isn't high enough .Can't recall in my 82 years EVER seeing someone like ISSA that thinks he can control the Executive Branch. Put on your drag clothes and go to Hollywood and Vine where similar idiots like your self hang out.
Some people are REALLY dense. Do you know ANYTHING about politics and the games played?
Has anyone stopped to think that Holder and the President actually knew nothing and they just want the Contempt charge taken off table just so they can make Issa look EXTRA stupid once the documents show of no wrongdoing?
Of course not, because some (most) of you hated President Obama before he even took his first seating in the Oval Office.
AGAIN, check how many times Executive Privilege was used under the last 10 administrations and then see President Obama invoked it for the FIRST TIME in his last year, tell me you aren't already biased against this man when you yell how corrupt and secretive he is...and he's been the most transparent President ever!
I have to assume daveboy that you are worried that your welfare check will be cut off.
you really think obama and holder let a federal agent get killed by a gun they let walk...just to "make issa look stupid" ?
...wow, some folks are beyond helping with comprehension.
Sorry, I work for mine.
There goes another Rush Limbaugh addict that thinks President Obama's supporters all want a free meal. I want the change President Obama offers but the Republicans keep blocking!
and we have to assume that you are a biggot and a troll!
How is Obama a megalomaniac? Because you say so?
Yes, an American Citizen died. I believe someone SHOULD be held responsible, but THIS is NOT why the investigation is going on. You and I both know this is ONLY a political move to discredit the Administration. IF I thought for one sec that they are REALLY concerned about who knew what, I would agree. BUT Issa has made himself proven to be one-sided on this issue and others. If it was REALLY about getting to the bottom of things, they would point to the former administration and look for answers. They were the ones the project originated from.
@keck... I never said they let someone get shot to let Issa look stupid, I'm talking about this circus in court they started. Reading IS fundamental!
Not only should Eric Holder be held in contempt, Barack Obama should also be held in contempt. We might as well hold the demopcratic party in contempt also. They have engineered the process to bring the USA to the point of a socialist/communist nation. Hopefully, before their brains completely rot away we can get them out of the leadership roles that they are bastardizing.
Republicans say "I didn't get what I want. WAAAAAAA!!!!"
sounds like they are saying "special prosecutor" and "impeachment" to me.
I did not want this gem to get buried in the pages before. Here is a crystallization of the problems in this country....this irony was posted a page back:
msnidiots says, "Divisiveness is NOT unity and people that create it are despicable."
Don't tell him to read his own posts. How can one contradict themselves within one sentence? They actually believe when others that don't agree with them have an opinion, it is destructive divisiveness...but when they do it, it is okey dokey and being American.
How do you converse with people like that?
What's done is done. The economy is what got Obama elected and it will be his down fall. It's still in the toilet and will probably get worse with Europe collapsing. There is nothing and I mean nothing that will save him if the economy doesn't improve by November!!
How about the useless Iraq war. Over 4,000 Americans killed and over 3 trillion dollars spent on the war. America gave weapons to everyone. It is a known fact that many of those weapons were used against America. Where was Congress then? Stupid Republicans!!!
Obama should be free to rule any way he chooses.
no.
not if it means giving assault rifles to mexican drug cartels...who use it to kill countless mexicans, and and american federal agent.
Yes.
Even if it means that !!
He is, after all, the ruler of the American people.
We have Presidents not Monarchs?
The people elected Obama.
He has had to take matters into his own hands and rule as a monarch because he could not get his way with " congress".
By definition he has created a monarchy.
The people still overwhelmingly support him.
By definition the people support this monarchy.
I can smell some sarcasm in Nothing New Here's post
Yeah, let's all listen and believe a car thief, arsonist, druggie!!! Why is he a congressman again????
YEAHHHH, we ARE talking about Issa, the hypocrite,much like yourself.
Thomas Blue, I couldn't have said it better myself...perfect response!!
People why dont we address the "elephant" in the room? This is the most racist and divisive President we have seen in our life time. There is absolutely no reason why these documents are not given to Congress. If you flip this whole thing around ... If Bush was President and the Attorney General was white and the agent killed was Black.....hmmmmm....pretty sure the LIBERAL MEDIA would be having a field day with this story. A man, weather he was Black , White ,Hispanic or Asian what ever has been killed ....He is sombody's son , father or spouse... This whole thing makes me sick to my stomache... There is no defense for this what so ever.
You make me sick with false statements aka lies.
Where on God's green earth do you get this ****? You talk of this one agent (though tragic) being killed but don't care about the thousands of lives lost in Iraq......a war fought on false pretenses.
You seriously need to think before you type......if you're going to make such an outrageous comment like "racist" and "divisive": you must have countless examples to back up your accusations. What are they?
False staements.... Really? What part is false? You do not think for a second if roles were reversed the Liberal biased media would not be all over this??? Cut me a break and wake up. Holder does not even investigate the Black Panthers in voter intimidation accusations that was actually caught on tape... If the roles were again reversed I am very sure there would have been an investigation.on any type of White group doing the same thing.(and they should)..cut me a break.. I am not sure where Iraq fits into this dicussion...but it sounds really odd to even compare. Countless examples ...Really? Divisave ....How many more times do I have to hear about the Rich not paying their fair share??? How much more do they need to pay? Why is the President picking what Unions to give more to (Example Govt workers , teachers ,Firemen etc...) I should pay higher taxes so that my money can provide another job in the Public sector. Why is he not giving more to my Union ? My Union is Local 2 out of Pittsburgh. I am insulator at various different Power Plantsin Western Pa. He is shutting my plants down and going with Green Energy. Another waste of Tax Payer money. How many more Divisive Examples do you want? I can go on...
Also , dont you find it even a little "Ironic" that Holder is not going to special Investigator on the security Leaks coming from the White House? I guess with your Blinders on you do not see the obvious on that issue as well. They are each covering each others ass! Lets see Security Leaks and cover up with documents on a Dead agent..... and you still dont want to find the truths on either of these subjects....... I get it . Its Bushes and the Tea Partys fault!!!!!!
The American Republic have every right to know what happened and who was responsible. Holder & Obama need to tell the TRUTH !!!
Where were you when Bush told lies to take us to war? Oh but of course your selective stupidity only applies to a black democratic president. scumbag and repubican ought to be on the ballot together.
Tell us again why GWB cannot leave the continental U.S.! Your rant is gloriously redundant and rapidly becoming trite! Everything is relative (materially comparable) in contextual attitude,actions:(GWB v:BHO) you should study more between parroting sessions! Hurry, before you are completely overtaken by dementia and become totally asynaptic!
Firstly, Issa should have had "expulsion" proceedings against him and Boehner was required by law to do it. Boehner too should have has "expulsion" proceedings charges against him as well. They broke their oath to office by signing the Norquist pledge and therefor they have no legal standing, authority, nor voting rights in congress. The Democrats should and can proceed with charges now and eliminate those that pledged their allegiance to an "unelected" person . This should have been done and all this witch hunting, all this drama, and all the Republican 's three and half year vacations can come to an abrupt end and we eliminate them from being a blight on Democracy. The vitriolic theme of Republicanism has had it's day and we want them gone gone gone. Save the nation and vote a STRAIGHT Democratic ticket and FIRE the Republicans.
unfortunately for you they can sign a pledge to Norquist without violating their oath. They have not stated his pledge is more important than the constitution. Quite frankly, i am glad they have pledged not to raise taxes. That way my son can stop paying for all you liberals on welfare doing nothing
Boy are you stupid if you think not raising taxes on the very rich is the right thing to do.
Hey Joe Madden.... Here is a news flash for you..... The Republicans are not in charge!!!! I think the Dems own the Senate and the Presidency. That makes them the Majority!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now you want to fire the Minority?.....Are you for real??? Just like the Dems owned the majority in the House and Senate in Bushes last two years.....See that means the DEMS WERE IN POWER FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS..and you want to fire the Minority????They are the problem? Wow!!! Doesnt that sound rediculous???? a little...maybe?
Flash, Holder has just signed on Ollie North. Ollie's job will be to go before Congress and tell them just what he told them for Ronald Reagan in IRAN-CONTRA..
Oh, the reacationary right-wingers don't RECALL, IRAN-CONTRA!!
ha, this is so funny.
What is even more funny when the right wingers call Holder and the President names. And then climb on their white horse like they are saints.. Spare me..
Spare Rommey too..
Gerard
Again with refusing to see the truth. You want to talk about one man? How about the 4400 that were killed in a war the govt. lied about? Any comment?
Starting in Oct. 2011 charges and indictments were brough against 9 people by the Obama adm. DOJ. How many came before that? You know? ZERO. Talk about scumbags.
Gerard is the King of trolls! Soon to collapse.
Here is the ultimate hypocrisy of the Republican Party and equally stupid Conservative Democratic party members who without fail not only want to keep military spending as is, but increase it.
"After eight years and a reported $5 billion in development, the U.S. Army is ditching its pixelated-looking uniform in favor of something that doesn't look like it was borrowed from the "Contra" Nintendo game. The design, known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), has failed at doing what camo should do: Hide our soldiers. "If we can see our own guys across a distance because of it, then so can our enemy," one Army specialist said. According to insiders, the design was selected after the Marines had switched to an eye-catching pixel-driven pattern. "That's what this really comes down to," the editor of Soldier Systems Daily said. "'We can't allow the Marine Corps to look more cool than the Army.'"
Now what does this have to do with Issa and F&F? The reality is that these idiot politicians will literally ignore FIVE BILLION DOLLARS WASTED, and instead concentrate all their time and energy on what is essentially a political witch hunt. And that is EXACTLY what this is. Contrary to Fox Lying News and the Right Wing Propaganda machine trying to make it otherwise.
yes while you ignore every failed progressive program including welfare and medicaid, or perhaps the cops program. There is waste in every part of government. Fast and Furious killed a border agent but he wasn't black so you don't care. If he was black I am sure you would be screaming RACISM.
Failed in what way stupid?
Actually, is was Mexican drug runners that killed Agent Terry, not Fast and Furious. Further, two guns were found at the crime scene, not used to kill him.
But, please don't allow facts to get in the way of your wet dream ... LMAO
Nor the fact that my comment had zero do with race. Nor the fact that my point was that anybody with minimal critical thinking skills would see the obvious connection between these types of investigations and the gridlock that now encompasses Congress. Or even the fact that the reference to "every failed progressive program including welfare and medicaid" is incredibly ignorant. Considering the fact BOTH programs work quite well if you take the time to research them beyond the Tea Party, Fox Lying News and the Right Wing Propaganda machine.
Nor the fact that I specifically call out BOTH parties and "idiot politicians". And I do so because that is the reality. But there is another reality here. Look over the last 30 years and see which party has initiated these types of investigations on a constant basis. With the majority ending in zero convictions or even censure. Big hint here. It isn't progressives.
Issa = Drama Queen and a Don Draper wanna be
well let's just say this if Border Agent Terry was BLACK all those democratic congressman would be screaming race. Because he was white you liberals are very happy.
LMAO ... ask252 ... that's some mighty powerful @!$%# you're smoking, son!
Don't know him (Issa) but he is going down in my book as a true patriot.
What a crock! Black, white, Mexican, Chinese, or whatever, race has ZERO to do with this. And if the agent killed happened to be not white, this would still be an idiot political sideshow. And no politicians, be they Democratic, Republican would not be shouting from the rooftops that a "black agent" was killed. Unless specific racial undertones were involved. Such as six white officers specifically sent in the black officer because they didn't like blacks. Then of course they SHOULD be bringing it up.
"A man died, some one needs to go to jail over this."
I'm sure you feel the same way about the 11 guys who died on the Deep Water Horizon ... when will someone at BP and Haliburton hang for that tragedy??
So when is anyone from the Bush Admin going to jail for the over 4000 lives lost in the illegal Iraq war? Dumbass!
I voted for Obama in 08, what a waste that was!!!
bob: A bigger waste would be to vote for Mitt in 2012....but then some people never learn.....
Everyone makes mistakes. We learn..and we grow! The most important thing is making forward progress. Which you already have!!
Yes and your mistake would be to think that Mitt would in any way be better unless of course you are a 1%er which I doubt.
Really.....old temper tantrum McCain and wailing bailing Palin....you wish you would have voted for them....come on, admit President Obama/VP Biden was the better choice in 2008 and will be again in 2012.
Anybody right now would be better than the Lying, Criminal Traitorous Bunch we have occupying the White House right now?
Palin was much more experience than Obama and would have made a far better president. Biden is an idiot!
Like those responsible for the death of 11 guys on the Deep Water Horizon, sport?
OBAMA DOES NOT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BREAK THE LAW ! GET HIM OUT !
And put him in jail. Or, send him back to wherever he is an actual citizen. I think Kenya would be good.
And Bush did? how racist of you.
yeah, quit saying obama is kenyan-american.
...because his dad was kenyan.
that is just pure racism to point out where someones dad is from.
"...because his dad was kenyan."
And his mother was American. What's your point, Cletus?
I agree - those at BP and Haliburton need to be held accountable for killing 11 guys on the Deep Water Horizon.
That would be the person who pulled the trigger...a member of a Mexican drug cartel. From January to September 2011, 12,903 people had been killed in violence blamed by Mexican officials on drug cartels.
Calling Obama what he is is not a racist comment.