
House GOP poised to hold Holder in contempt, with some Dems to vote in favorJune 28, 2012
House Republicans and some conservative Democrats are poised to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress on Thursday for withholding documents in the investigation into botched Operation Fast and Furious, which let guns slip into the hands of drug cartels.
House Speaker John Boehner is pressing ahead with a floor vote that is almost certain to pass, with the majority Republicans expected to get the backing of some Democrats. At least five Democrats so far have said they plan to vote to hold Holder in contempt, and sources tell Fox News as many as 11 appear ready to break ranks.
Those Democrats are largely conservative-leaning lawmakers facing perilous political circumstances in their home districts. But regardless of motive, their support only increases the odds that the nation's top law enforcement official will be held in contempt of Congress come Thursday.
The vote against a key Obama administration officials comes on the same day the Supreme Court is due to announce its decision on the constitutionality of President Obama's health care law, the administration's key domestic agenda achievement. The contempt vote, however, is expected to take place sometime early afternoon, several hours after the Supreme Court decision.
If the contempt measure passes, it would touch off a whole new legal process -- in which a U.S. attorney would be called upon to convene a grand jury to consider the allegations and whether to indict, though with Holder at the helm it's unclear how that would play out.
The two sides also will likely continue to battle over the documents at the heart of the dispute as Obama tries to lock them down by claiming executive privilege.
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Posted by Ken at 4:50 AM