Holder's Cloak Shredded By Issa's Dagger

June 7, 2012 - Sparks flew in a Congressional hearing about Operation Fast and Furious by the House Judiciary committee today. That's the the gun-running scandal that has U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder playing defense. He is accused by Republicans of knowing more about it that he has admitted, and of covering up what they accuse him of knowing. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) laid into Holder during the hearing.

Issa accused Holder of nothing producing enough evidence to the committee. 

Angry, he said to Holder that "since May 18th, nothing, nothing has come from your department, not one shred of paper."

Issa then asked Holder, "Have you and your attorneys produced, internally, the materials responsive to the subpoenas?" Holder responded, "We believe that we have responded to the subpoenas," at which point Issa angrily interrupted him.

"No, Mr Attorney General, you're not a good witness," Issa scolded. "A good witness answers the questions asked. So let's go back again." Have you, and your attorneys, produced internally, the materials responsive - in  other words, have you taken the time to look up our subpoena and find out what material you have responsive to it or have you simply invented a privilege that doesn't exist?"

Digging for truth at Justice

Issa has asked the DOJ for the documents, reports The Hill today, "including wiretap applications it used in the botched federal gun-tracking Operation Fast and Furious, for months." He has "taken preliminary steps to move contempt-of-Congress citations against Holder, but it remains unclear if GOP leaders support that move."

ISSA'S MOLE AT JUSTICE:

Issa has a secret weapon against Holder, however. It has been revealed that he has been getting valuable documents from a mole inside of Holder's Department of Justice. "Issa," reports The Hill, "says the documents show top-ranking DOJ officials signing off on the condemned 'gun-walking' tactics used in the failed operation. Senior DOJ officials have repeatedly denied that they approved the botched initiative." The Hill says that Issa has "apparently broken no laws by being given the information" by his mole, and that the documents have not yet been made public.

Related:

• Fast and Furious: Eric Holder’s bizarre House Judiciary testimony Human Events
• Mole helps Rep. Issa whack Justice Dept. The Hill
• Issa Bypasses Holder to Gain Information About Fast and Furious NewsMax
• Holder concedes ‘inappropriate tactics,’ but mum on ‘Fast and Furious’ blame Washington Times