Cohen Statement on Vote to Hold Attorney General Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following statement after the GOP-led House of Representatives voted to hold U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress over gunwalking Operation Fast and Furious:

“The vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress was extreme, unprecedented and politically motivated. The House has never held an Attorney General in contempt before and Republicans have been holding this Attorney General to an impossible standard for the past year and accusing him of “obstructing” the investigation for complying with federal law.

“Over the past year, Republicans have been demanding documents the Attorney General is prohibited by law from producing, including wiretap applications and documents governed by grand jury secrecy rules, as well as those relating to ongoing criminal investigations. The Attorney General has already provided Republicans with thousands of documents but the GOP is refusing to take “yes” for an answer. It’s a shame the GOP is trying to score political points in an election year by playing games with Operation Fast and Furious and the Attorney General.”

Yesterday, Congressman Cohen defended Attorney General Holder on the House floor. Click here to see his remarks.