Historic: House votes to hold Holder in contempt

Via Fox News:

The GOP-led House voted Thursday to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for failing to provide key information pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious, making Holder the first sitting Cabinet member to be held in contempt.

The vote was 255-67 with one lawmaker voting not present. Seventeen Democrats broke ranks to vote in favor of contempt, while two Republicans voted against the measure.

The vote was preceded by a heated floor debate.

“It’s important to remember how we got here,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said during a speech ahead of the vote. “The Justice Department has not provided the facts and information we requested. … It’s our constitutional duty to find out.”

The GOP-led House took the step over the alleged failure to provide additional information about the failed gun-running operation known as Fast and Furious which was run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — a division of the Justice Department led by Holder.

Here’s the roll call.

More deets from Legal Insurrection:

The House voted on two separate items:

1: Whether to hold Holder in contempt and then refer him to the DOJ

2: Authorization to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to sue the DOJ in federal court [TK]

The congressman representing the district of the family of murdered border agent Brian Terry, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), indicated he would vote against contempt.

In remarks prior to the vote, Rep. Issa (R-CA) said to Rep. Dingell: “When you say you represent Brian Terry, you do not.” Issa then read a statement from the Brian Terry family, which said that the only time they had heard from Dingell was one condolence letter.

Many democrats joined the Congressional Black Caucus in walking out of the proceedings during the vote.

And every Democrat who did should be publicly named and shamed. What despicable, derelict “representatives”, and a shameful dishonor of the memory of Brian Terry and the 300+ Mexicans who are dead because of Fast and Furious.

Between today’s deeply disappointing SCOTUS ruling on ObamaCare, and the whole sad, sordid Fast and Furious scandal, I freaking can’t wait until November so Americans can vote this contemptible president and his allies in Congress out of office. I’m absolutely sick of every blasted one of them.

Phineas says:

June 28, 2012 at 5:39 pm

Oh, yeah. This fight is on through November.

Drew the Infidel says:

June 28, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Holder has only himself to blame for deliberately landing in this position in the first place. And before all the race-baiters begin demonstrating their cowardice and inability to face an issue, Holder is not all that unique in being cited. WWII hero and former AG John Mitchell is the only AG to serve time in a federal lockup for perjury and obstruction. The only difference, besides being white, is no one died during his tenure.

Tango says:

June 28, 2012 at 6:34 pm

….Barry and his minions will ignore this minor aggravation (Holder being voted in contempt). Just as the Clinton devotees did when ole bubba was impeached.

And the media will move on to those issues they deem “more important.”

Sefton says:

June 28, 2012 at 6:50 pm

Democrats are always cowards and deniers when it comes to facing tough issues, taking their toys and going home is a common ploy; whether it be this contempt vote against Holder, leaving the state of Wisconsin to avoid the collective bargaining issue, or leaving the state of Texas to avoid the redistricting issue.
With the Dem Party, now effectively called the Socialist Party, it’s their way or the highway – literally – because they hit the road if it ain’t going to bend their way.

Carlos says:

June 29, 2012 at 1:21 am

All this is is what most of us knew anyway: Mr. “My People” is a contemptible person.

Rhymes With Right says:

June 29, 2012 at 4:02 am

CONTEMPT! Anotehr First For The Obama Regime…

Never in the history of the United States has the Attorney General — the nation’s top official for law enforcement and criminal prosecution — been cited as a criminal by a house of Congress for refusing to abide by the terms of a subpoena. Until tod…

BBHunter says:

June 29, 2012 at 4:14 am

– The hubris of his highness and his royal court is breath-taking.

Red Pill Report says:

June 29, 2012 at 5:04 am

For the Democrats and the CBC to turn this into a racial issue is despicable! It’s not surprising…but pathetic, none-the-less.

As is typical of the left…when they’re losing the debate, they fall back on baseless accusations of “-isms” and “phobias.” Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, etc.

In the past, too many Republicans have cowered at these accusations–conceding the debate to the left. It’s time to elect people with a spine who can do the right thing while withstanding the ridicule and criticism that will surely come their way.

IT’S ON IN NOVEMBER! OBAMACARE just ensured this president will keep at least one of his promises…that his presidency will be a “one term proposition.”