Is “Fast and Furious” Beginning to Crack Wide Open?

ERIC HOLDER TO TESTIFY ON FEB. 2

by Sharon Rondeau

(Feb. 1, 2012) — Putative Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to present testimony to the U.S. House Government and Oversight Committee on Thursday of this week regarding the highly controversial Fast and Furious operation in which firearms were sold to middlemen who then transferred them to Mexican drug runners and other criminals.  The operation was carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Chairman of the Committee Rep. Darrell Issa possesses the authority to issue subpoenas, having committed to “stopping government from taking away your liberties, government from exceeding its authority…”

Issa served as ranking member on the committee until after the elections of 2010, when Republicans gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and therefore the chairmanships of House committees.

On February 1, a hearing will be held on Obama’s appointments of several nominees to two boards within the federal government which he claims were done while Congress was in recess.  However, the Senate was in session when the appointments were made, and the House Government and Oversight Committee has labeled Obama’s picks “Unprecedented ‘Recess’ Appointments.”

U.S. Attorney Patrick Cunningham has pleaded the Fifth Amendment after having been asked to testify in the Fast and Furious matter. Issa has also requested that Cunningham’s subordinates testify about their knowledge of the operation but received no cooperation from Cunningham.  Holder has refused to comply with subpoenas issued  by the Committee, just as Obama and his Georgia attorney, Michael Jablonski, refused to comply with a subpoena issued to Jablonski in regard to an eligibility hearing which took place on January 26 in Atlanta.

Is there still a rule of law in the United States, or can men do whatever they please?

Issa termed Cunningham’s refusal to testify a “startling development” and said that Cunningham had already provided “false information” and utilized “reckless tactics” in the gun-running operation.

The Committee has titled the February 2 hearing “”Fast and Furious: Management Failures at the Department of Justice.” It maintains that in the wake of Fast and Furious, “U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has given the American people reason to doubt his ability to effectively lead the Department of Justice.”

One writer claims that over 300 lives were lost as a result of the “botched operation,” including that of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010.  Both firearms and large amounts of cash went to Mexican criminal syndicates.  The ATF’s stated mission is to be “at the frontline against violent crime,” but does not mention Terry’s death at the hands of U.S. guns sold to criminals which were later found to have killed the former Marine and border patrol agent.

Calls began for Eric Holder’s resignation after it was revealed that he did not answer questions honestly about the Fast and Furious operation in May of last year.  Evidence surfaced which showed that Holder was aware of the operation in the summer of 2010, contrary to his testimony.  Shortly thereafter, a “White House Insider” predicted that “Eric Holder is gonna fall.”  Last month, Congressman Paul Gosar described Holder as being “on the ropes” and “feeling increasing pressure” to resign given his apparent role in the scheme which some say was designed to turn Americans against gun ownership and cede more power to the federal government over regulation of gun sales and registrations.

The New York Times is reporting that a Democrat-issued report “absolves” Holder and Obama of responsibility in Fast and Furious and places it solely on employees of the ATF based in Arizona.  But how can Democrats be sure that no one in the Obama regime was involved the operation when emails released recently show that Holder was aware of it?  Does the ATF not report to the Department of Justice?  Didn’t Holder know what they were doing?  Are the Democrats lying in an election-year ploy?

Holder has invoked the “race card” in regard to the harsh criticism leveled at his apparent knowledge of and false statements about Fast and Furious.  He has pledged to exonerate “his people,” contrary to the stated mission of the Department of Justice.

Issa has threatened Holder with contempt of Congress if Holder’s Justice Department does not produce additional documents requested by the Committee.  If Holder “did not authorize” Fast and Furious, who did?

Is another oversight committee the answer?

And what did Obama know of Fast and Furious?  Will the failed operation be “Obama’s Watergate?”  Or will it be something else?

What if Issa were to issue a subpoena for Obama’s original birth record, social security number documentation, and any aliases he has used, as was done by the attorneys representing Georgia plaintiffs last Thursday?  Would Obama be found in contempt?  Has Holder covered up for Obama since his appointment in 2009?

If Holder is pressured to resign or is removed from his post, who will protect Obama?

Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states:

The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.