US House of Representatives Votes to Attorney General Eric Holder in Criminal and Civil Contempt of Congress over ‘Fast and Furious’

The US House of Representatives voted Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over his obstruction in handing over documents with the ‘Fast and Furious’ government gun walking program. Democrats House minority leader Pelosi Holder Obama, the liberal MSM and the numerous Democrats have called it a political witch hunt. The criminal contempt of vote was 255-67. However, that is hard to say this vote was political AG Holder when 17 Democrats crossed party lines and voted to find Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. The House also passed civil contempt of Congress  258 – 95.

The House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress Thursday for failing to provide documents relating to the Fast and Furious gunwalking program.

The House took two votes, one on criminal contempt charges, which passed 255-67. The criminal contempt of Congress is likely not to go anywhere as the Justice Department, which Holder heads, is the department responsible for opening a criminal investigation.

The second charge, which passed 258 – 95, was a civil contempt charge, could move to federal court where it could take years to litigate. Though the action puts more pressure on the administration to abide by the subpoenas and provide requested documents.

The Democratic Party was split on the action. Seventeen members voted with the Republicans to hold Holder in criminal contempt while just under two dozen voted to hold him in civil contempt. But most, led by the Congressional Black Caucus, walked off the floor to protest the vote, which they called “appalling.”