April 20, 2011

Issa: Pony Up Those Gun-Walker Documents Or Face Contempt
— Ace

The lawless Obama and lawless Holder are refusing to release documents relating to the murder of a US citizen. Claiming... something. Elijah Cummings, a Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, claims the release of the documents could somehow compromise 20 active investigations.

[I]n an April 13 letter to Issa, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Welch cited the Justice Department’s policy not to disclose details about “ongoing criminal investigations” as a reason not to comply with the document demand.

Issa says the objection is spurious.

“We are not conducting a concurrent investigation with the Department of Justice, but rather an independent investigation of the Department of Justice,” Issa says in his April 20 letter, citing three historical examples of congressional oversight of Justice Department investigations, including during the Teapot Dome scandal in 1922.

ATF did provide access to four documents for “in camera” review at Justice Department headquarters, Issa says, but the documents were “general” and did not “directly pertain” to Operation Fast and Furious, in which guns were permitted to be smuggled to Mexico.

Issa's hunch (almost certainly right) is that it's "unfathomable" that such an operation and such a policy could have been enacted by the permanent bureaucracy, on its own initiative, without getting a greenlight from the "top officials," by which I think he means political appointees. So Obama's refusal to comply is not based on any legitimate law enforcement purpose but is due to his simple desire to protect his political appointees.

Who approved this operation? That's a simple question and could not possibly jeopardize any prosecutions.

So why isn't that basic question answered?

Pretty obvious, huh? That's the question they really don't want to answer, but an answer that has nothing at all to do with jeopardizing any prosecutions.

Posted by: Ace at 12:58 PM | Comments (66)
Post contains 310 words, total size 2 kb.

1 This is all going to come out and Obama is going to look terrible for helping to cover it up.

Posted by: Quilly Mammoth at April 20, 2011 01:00 PM (FD7Ct)

2
FYNQ

Posted by: Eric Holder at April 20, 2011 01:00 PM (7YzRS)

3 How come I am the only one who didn't get away with this stuff?

Posted by: Richard M. Nixon at April 20, 2011 01:00 PM (T0NGe)

4 Issa needs to say in no uncertain terms:  turn over everything or I come down there with some Marshals and go Raylen Givens on your asses.

Posted by: EC at April 20, 2011 01:01 PM (f4TZ2)

5 BTW:Kloppy's going to ask for a recount.according WISC-tV

Posted by: Quilly Mammoth at April 20, 2011 01:03 PM (FD7Ct)

6 Holy shit. The Dodgers are going under (being taken over by MLB like the Expos). Just heard it on MLB Live Audio. Terrible.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 20, 2011 01:03 PM (xMT+4)

7
And get me a sammich while you're at it. Chris Dodd swears by 'em.

Posted by: Eric Holder at April 20, 2011 01:04 PM (7YzRS)

8

Issa hates our young black president...That's the answer...

Posted by: LaQuisha Demming at April 20, 2011 01:05 PM (By4wu)

9 Kloppy is going for a recount. Selfish.

Posted by: Rocks at April 20, 2011 01:05 PM (Q1lie)

10 5 BTW:Kloppy's going to ask for a recount.according WISC-tV

Note that I didn't do anything like that in 1960.

Seriously, I resigned rather than putting America through an impeachment, I didn't contest the fraudulent 1960 IL and TX returns.

When your party can't match my classiness, you've got a problem.

Posted by: Richard M. Nixon at April 20, 2011 01:06 PM (T0NGe)

11 Wasn't it "Operation Fast And Loose"?

Posted by: andycanuck at April 20, 2011 01:06 PM (Y1DZt)

12 You subpoena documents? Fuck you. I won.

Posted by: Crashpanic at April 20, 2011 01:07 PM (05rI/)

13 It it difficult to comprehend how this could make amnesty more palatable.

Posted by: Bob Saget at April 20, 2011 01:07 PM (F/4zf)

14
Which Federal Judge has the balls to issue arrest warrants for those in contempt of Congress?  Eliminate all liberal appointees and most of the conservatives, and only then will we know who is Judge Big Balls.

Posted by: Fish the Impaler at April 20, 2011 01:07 PM (ZHsNw)

15

There is enough malfeasance and mischief going on under Holder's watch to keep Issa busy for years. This is only one of them.

After Issa gets done here, maybe he can find out why border patrol was essentially told to stand down and turn the Mexican border into a bigger sieve that it already is.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at April 20, 2011 01:07 PM (d0Tfm)

16 Holy shit. The Dodgers are going under (being taken over by MLB like the Expos). Just heard it on MLB Live Audio. Terrible.

Posted by: Lincolntf

 

Good!

Posted by: Brooklyn will never forget at April 20, 2011 01:07 PM (6rX0K)

17 First you get the sugar. Then you get the power.

Posted by: mexican pusher of the white death at April 20, 2011 01:07 PM (Y1DZt)

18 Yeah, it would jeopardize investigations because the Social Justice Department's actions were probably wholly illegal.

Posted by: AmishDude at April 20, 2011 01:08 PM (T0NGe)

19

GOP needs to scream about this from every...HAHAHAHA!!!

I kill me!

Posted by: ErikW at April 20, 2011 01:08 PM (voX7b)

20 Has he even issued a subpoena yet? I have never been in favor of congressional subpoenas but it sounds like one is needed here.

Posted by: Vic at April 20, 2011 01:08 PM (M9Ie6)

21

Why, oh why, did I ever fill the hole in the Gulf? 

 Life was so much better when I could just go for a walk on the beach and play with my little tar balls.   My poll numbers were just awesome back then...

Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama feelin' nostalgic at April 20, 2011 01:09 PM (0oUd+)

22 We just might get this pack of crooked muthafuckers thrown out yet.

Posted by: sifty at April 20, 2011 01:09 PM (+cmP9)

23

GOP needs to scream about this from every...HAHAHAHA!!!

I kill me!

Posted by: ErikW

 

You mean that you actually want me to betray the rest of the ruling class?

Posted by: GOP at April 20, 2011 01:10 PM (6rX0K)

24 "6 Holy shit. The Dodgers are going under (being taken over by MLB like the Expos). Just heard it on MLB Live Audio. Terrible."   Well the good news is nobody died at Dodger Stadium for attending a game.

Posted by: Ginormous at April 20, 2011 01:10 PM (Q5+Og)

25

ATF did provide access to four documents for “in camera” review at Justice Department headquarters, Issa says, but the documents were “general” and did not “directly pertain” to Operation Fast and Furious, in which guns were permitted to be smuggled to Mexico.

Word is that the four documents were two Justice Department memos on the importance of respecting diversity, an autographed photo of a shirtless Eric Holder holding out his middle finger, and a menu from a good Chinese take-out joint.

Posted by: Cicero at April 20, 2011 01:11 PM (QKKT0)

26 Well the good news is nobody died at Dodger Stadium for attending a game.

Posted by: Ginormous

 

Except for the franchise, apparantly.

Posted by: Blue Hen at April 20, 2011 01:11 PM (6rX0K)

27 This menace MUST be impeached before the next election.  The Constitution and governing laws just don't concern him, so he must be stopped.

Posted by: © Sponge at April 20, 2011 01:11 PM (UK9cE)

28 Noone will hear about this and nothing will come of it. Why you ask? Because we fucking said so. Now back to our fifteen part expose of Sarah Palin's uterus.

Posted by: The MFM at April 20, 2011 01:11 PM (rbgNr)

29 "6 Holy shit. The Dodgers are going under (being taken over by MLB like the Expos). Just heard it on MLB Live Audio. Terrible." 

The beach balls will be lowered to half staff and fans will be asked to bow their heads as they leave the stadium in the 6th inning.

Posted by: AmishDude at April 20, 2011 01:11 PM (T0NGe)

30 Hey Obama!

Now Eric Holder is gonna wish he was anonymous too. Bet Holder rats your punk ass out to keep from going to a federal country club for two years.

Scooter Libby on Line 1.


Bwahahahahahahaha

Posted by: sifty at April 20, 2011 01:12 PM (+cmP9)

31 Historic Levels of Transparency Wins Future 

Posted by: Alternate Headline at April 20, 2011 01:12 PM (0oUd+)

32

This is all going to come out and Obama is going to look terrible for helping to cover it up.

 

Not to worry.  His minions in the State Controlled Media will sweep it all under the carpet. 

Posted by: runningrn at April 20, 2011 01:12 PM (ihSHD)

33 It's not a cover-up.  Its a Kinetic Discovery Avoidance Action.

Posted by: Eric Holder at April 20, 2011 01:12 PM (QKKT0)

34 Those slugs in the newsrooms will never even report this.

Posted by: Barack "open mic night" Obama at April 20, 2011 01:13 PM (T0NGe)

35

"Except for the franchise, apparantly."

 

No, I think there are a couple of cities that can actually support a Major League team. It seems LA isn't one of the them. I wonder why?

Posted by: Ginormous at April 20, 2011 01:13 PM (Q5+Og)

36

 His minions in the State Controlled Media will sweep it all under the carpet. 

 

There's plenty of that.

Posted by: Michelle Obama's Soul Patch at April 20, 2011 01:14 PM (0oUd+)

37

I have never been in favor of congressional subpoenas but it sounds like one is needed here.

I've been surprised that SCOTUS hasn't climbed up The Vapid One's© ass about the power he's amassing for himself, all the czars, and the very questionable legislation he's signed.

I coulda swore we were supposed to have those check and balance thingys. The JEF is running roughshod over our Constituion like a coked-up stimulus monkey. Shit, somebody's got to stop him.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at April 20, 2011 01:14 PM (d0Tfm)

38 I guess it makes sense that the first big pillar to fall in L.A. would be an actual for-profit business in a multi-billion dollar industry. If the Dodgers aren't a strong enough brand to survive, who is? The SEIU?

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 20, 2011 01:14 PM (xMT+4)

39

The confidence of the American people in their Executive Branch is dependent upon transparency and

zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

Posted by: Joe Biden at April 20, 2011 01:14 PM (QKKT0)

40 Well the good news is nobody died at Dodger Stadium for attending a game.

Posted by: Ginormous

 

Except for the franchise, apparantly.




It's all YOUR fault, Jamie.

Posted by: Frank McCourt at April 20, 2011 01:15 PM (7YzRS)

41

It's all YOUR fault, Jamie.

Posted by: Frank McCourt at April 20, 2011 05:15 PM (7YzRS)


Nuh-uh. Liar liar pants on fire.

Posted by: Jamie McCourt at April 20, 2011 01:18 PM (7YzRS)

42 But, but, but . . . .

Obama told Univision‘s Jorge Ramos that President Felipe Calderon wasn’t informed of the operation because he — the president of the United States — wasn’t informed either. When asked whether he knew of the weapon smuggling plan, Obama responded that it is “a pretty big government” with “a lot of moving parts.”

Posted by: momma at April 20, 2011 01:18 PM (penCf)

43

No, I think there are a couple of cities that can actually support a Major League team. It seems LA isn't one of the them. I wonder why?

Posted by: Ginormous at April 20, 2011 05:13 PM (Q5+Og)



That's because they don't care.  They have 2 basketball teams, a hockey team, 2 baseball teams (LA and LAA) and no one attends unless they WIN.

That's why they can't sustain an NFL team.....It's just SO dumb that every league thinks they need to keep putting sports franchises in that shitty city.  The only ones that end up being able to afford to go to the damn games are the rich, and they don't give a fuck. 

Posted by: © Sponge at April 20, 2011 01:21 PM (UK9cE)

44 6 Holy shit. The Dodgers are going under (being taken over by MLB like the Expos). Just heard it on MLB Live Audio. Terrible.

Jesus, owner Frank McCourt's divorce proceeding really screwed over the franchise.  The uncertainty as to whether he owns 100% or his wife owns 50% has to have contributed to this mess.

At least the New Orleans Hornets' sale to the NBA could be blamed on the minority owner refusing to buy the team thanks to the lack of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the players.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at April 20, 2011 01:21 PM (UvFnc)

45 #42, I'm sure someone thought about telling him, but the Indonesian Imbecile had a tee time to make and didn't give a fuck.

Posted by: SGT Dan at April 20, 2011 01:22 PM (jCQ+I)

46

I won.  Besides, laws are just really "guidelines."

Posted by: King Barry I at April 20, 2011 01:26 PM (zgZzy)

47

Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck had this to say:

"The minority leader's new-found concern for saving taxpayers money is encouraging. We hope it means we can count on her support for reducing DOJ's budget to recoup any costs incurred by the House so that taxpayers will bear no added cost for the administration's refusal to defend the laws of the United States."

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at April 20, 2011 01:30 PM (tvs2p)

48 No, I think there are a couple of cities that can actually support a Major League team. It seems LA isn't one of the them. I wonder why?

There's no city on the planet that can make up for the financial buffoonery of the McCourts. Ed Schultz may disagree, but this was more a spending problem than a revenue problem.

Posted by: Ted Kennedy's Gristle Encased Head at April 20, 2011 01:33 PM (+lsX1)

49 If we just CANT impeach the first black precedent can we at least impeach his incredibly corrupt AG? Yes I know 'thats RAAACIST' also, but its not like Barry wont throw Eric under the bus to resolve the situation quickly and improve his re-election chances.

Posted by: palerider at April 20, 2011 01:33 PM (dkExz)

50 Of course this got the green light from top officials. We need(ed) the cartels to be armed and making $$$. You know who is hardest hit by weak and defanged drug cartels? No, not dealers or junkies or corrupt politicians. No, its the banks. In 2008 the only source of liquidity for the big banks was hundreds of billions that they were laundering for international (esp. Mexican) drug cartels. End of story. No (Mexican) drug money, no liquidity in the US financial system.

Posted by: doug at April 20, 2011 01:34 PM (iq/yq)

51 You know who is hardest hit by weak and defanged drug cartels? No, not dealers or junkies or corrupt politicians. No, its the banks. In 2008 the only source of liquidity for the big banks was hundreds of billions that they were laundering for international (esp. Mexican) drug cartels.

End of story.

No (Mexican) drug money, no liquidity in the US financial system.

I can believe it.  South Florida had a booming banking industry during a recession in the late 70s / early 80s thanks to laundering drug money, as detailed in the documentary Cocaine Cowboys. 

Those same banks crashed later in the decade, while everyone else was flying high, because a lot of the dealers and importers had been busted by the feds.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at April 20, 2011 01:39 PM (UvFnc)

52 Kloppenburg said an investigation of the Waukesha County clerk was necessary and that something must be done so that "real change" comes to election practices and procedures in Waukesha County.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at April 20, 2011 01:42 PM (tvs2p)

53

Well, we can add this one to the mix as well......FEC probes/audits Toonce's campaign donations.   Gee, I'm sure there is nothing wrong there!

http://tinyurl.com/3frk287

Posted by: Cheri at April 20, 2011 01:45 PM (oiNtH)

54

ugh.....I'll try that link again - FEC probe

http://tinyurl.com/3frk287


 

Posted by: Cheri at April 20, 2011 01:49 PM (oiNtH)

55 Kloppenburg said an investigation of the Waukesha County clerk was necessary and that something must be done so that "real change" comes to election practices and procedures in Waukesha County.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at April 20, 2011 05:42 PM (tvs2p)

 

There should be an investigation into what happened to her face. Nobody that damaged is qualified to be a judge

Posted by: Jackhole at April 20, 2011 01:50 PM (+qHxi)

56 @36: "I coulda swore we were supposed to have those check and balance thingys. The JEF is running roughshod over our Constituion like a coked-up stimulus monkey. Shit, somebody's got to stop him."

Two things: (1) That would be racist.  (2) Um, we're the ruling elite.  We like power (and work tirelessly to accumulate more of it); we've never much cared for any checks on it; and we know for certain that no matter what we do, you peasants will meekly just sit there and take it, never doing anything beyond an angry letter or blog post, or maybe, in really extreme cases, attending a rally while carrying a sign.

Posted by: Your Betters in the Government at April 20, 2011 01:55 PM (xy9wk)

57

Great write-up from one of the original bloggers to break the story as to WHY this is more than just a gun issue: http://tinyurl.com/3wgvz9t

 

Posted by: Scott J at April 20, 2011 02:04 PM (KC2BE)

58 This screams for the appointment of Jamie Gorelick as a special prosecutor. Put her on the new Debt Commission too.

Posted by: The Poster Formerly Known as Mr. Barky at April 20, 2011 02:08 PM (qwK3S)

59 Posted by: Scott J at April 20, 2011 06:04 PM (KC2BE)

Why did you link to the CIA World Fact Book?

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 20, 2011 02:17 PM (bxiXv)

60 Gorelick! What about me? I've been around the block. Multiple times.

Posted by: Richard Ben-Veniste at April 20, 2011 02:24 PM (qwK3S)

61 This is pretty fuckin' absurd.

Posted by: Eugene Ionesco at April 20, 2011 02:25 PM (qwK3S)

62

Remember when deWon's fuckwits were harping that most of the guns in Mexico were coming from the US?   Yeah, it was being shouted from the rooftops by the same bastards that were pushing them into Mexico.     

Some really mind-blowing shit is going to be uncovered once these sons of bitches are kicked out of our house.   Shit like this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: Steph at April 20, 2011 02:27 PM (AkdC5)

63

60 Posted by: Scott J at April 20, 2011 06:04 PM (KC2BE)

Why did you link to the CIA World Fact Book?

Because I suck and copy and paste obviously and wasn't paying attention.

Sure wish Ace had an edit post function. So THIS is why Gunwalker is more than just a gun issue: http://tinyurl.com/3pz7jbn

 

Posted by: Scott J at April 20, 2011 02:35 PM (KC2BE)

64 Top Officials. TOP. OFFICIALS.

Posted by: Minuteman at April 20, 2011 02:46 PM (d6wkB)

65 A quick search of their sites showed that CBS News ran the story today, but the NY Times and Washington Post both skipped it.  AP had the story today, so I imagine that it is getting out to the local papers who care to run it.

Pretty bad coverage, but better than I thought.

Posted by: Cooter at April 20, 2011 06:28 PM (aK79B)

66 The checks (and balances) are in the mail ...

Posted by: Barrack BigEars Glowbama at April 21, 2011 05:26 AM (N05oL)

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