A walkout by House Democrats to protest what they see as a partisan attempt to embarrass President Barack Obama’s attorney general by holding him in contempt of congress, will include more than just black lawmakers, a Democratic aide tells theGrio.
Politico reported late Wednesday that members of the Congressional Black Caucus plan to walk out of the House chamber ahead of Thursday’s vote, which was prompted by House government oversight chair Darrell Issa, who contends that Holder has been uncooperative in the investigation of a “gun walking” operation called “Fast and Furious.” The operation has been a cause celebre in conservative media, and the National Rifle Association has made a vote to hold Holder in contempt a litmus test for House members in both parties.
The NRA’s leaders contend that “Fast and Furious” was a secret plan to push for increased gun control, by allowing deadly weapons to cross from the U.S. into Mexico, fomenting violence that could turn Americans against guns. Issa has admitted he has no evidence that either Holder or the White House had any knowledge of the program, which began during the George W. Bush administration. (A Fortune Magazine investigation released Wednesday raises doubts about fundamental aspects of the Republican conspiracies surrounding the program.)
Several Republicans have called for Holder to resign — something he has said he will not do — and Democrats have charged that the focus on Holder is purely partisan; something Issa denies. Democrats have cited Republicans’ refusal to call key witnesses and Issa’s admission that he has no evidence of wrongdoing on Holder’s part as evidence of a partisan witch-hunt.
A letter being circulated by the CBC reads in part:
“We adamantly oppose this partisan attack and refuse to participate in any vote that would tarnish the image of Congress or of an attorney general who has done nothing but work tirelessly to protect the rights of the American people. We must reflect upon why we are elected to this body and choose now to stand up for justice,” the CBC members wrote in a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO. “ We call upon all members of Congress to stand with us during a press conference on the Capitol Building steps during this appalling series of votes to discuss our nation’s most significant priority–creating jobs. At this critically important time in our nation, we must work as colleagues rather than political enemies.” {Full text of the letter at the end of this post)
The aide, who spoke to theGrio on condition of anonymity, said members of the CBC have been in talks with the Democratic Hispanic Caucus, the House’s Asian-American Caucus and the Progressive Caucus in order to broaden support for the walk-out. Meetings are reportedly planned between supporters of the walk-out and House Democratic leaders, in hopes of getting as many Democrats as possible to participate.
Reports have speculated that as few as four and as many as 30 Democrats could support the contempt vote.
If the vote succeeds, Holder would become the first presidential cabinet member to be held in contempt of congress in the nation’s history.
However, Holder is unlikely to be forced out — he enjoys strong support from the White House, and Democrats believe the “Fast and Furious” issue is seen as entirely partisan by those members of the public who are paying attention.
The full text of the letter being circulated by the CBC is below:
Dear Colleague:
We write to urge you to stand with us in the pursuit of justice for the Attorney General of the United States of America, Eric H. Holder. In its history, the United States House of Representatives has never held a United States Attorney General, or any other Cabinet official, in contempt.
Instead of focusing on job creation and other critical issues before this Congress, we have been asked to engage in a political stunt on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Our constituents elected us to do real work, not to engage in meaningless partisan activity.
Over the past 15 months, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice have cooperated with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s requests for information on “Fast and Furious”, an unfortunate operation that began under the Bush Administration and, in fact, was terminated by Attorney General Holder. The Department has made extraordinary efforts to accommodate Congress by turning over almost 8,000 documents–including all the documents that relate to the tactics in this investigation and the other flawed investigations that occurred in Arizona during the Bush Administration. The Attorney General also participated in a bicameral meeting in a good faith effort to satisfy the Committee’s information requests. While the Attorney General has advised House Republicans that he is willing to work with them in attempting to reach an agreement, the Republican Leadership is instead rushing recklessly to a contempt vote.
Contempt power should be used sparingly, carefully and only in the most egregious situations. The Republican Leadership has articulated no legislative purpose for pursuing this course of action. For these reasons we cannot and will not participate in a vote to hold the Attorney General in contempt. We adamantly oppose this partisan attack and refuse to participate in any vote that would tarnish the image of Congress or of an Attorney General who has done nothing but work tirelessly to protect the rights of the American people. We must reflect upon why we are elected to this body and choose now to stand up for justice.
We call upon all members of Congress to stand with us during a press conference on the Capitol Building steps during this appalling series of votes to discuss our nation’s most significant priority–creating jobs. At this critically important time in our nation, we must work as colleagues rather than political enemies.
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