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Representative Gosar: Civil Suit Will Break Through Fast and Furious Stonewalling

Washington, DC, August 13, 2012
Today U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement after Chairman Darrell Issa filed a civil action in federal court against U.S. Attorney General Holder for failing to provide subpoenaed documents in the Operation Fast and Furious investigation. The administration invoked executive privilege over these critical documents, and therefore has forced Congress to try to seek redress through federal court.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                          August 13, 2012

CONTACT:                                                                                Apryl Marie Fogel
                                                                                                 
                                                                        AprylMarie.Fogel@mail.house.gov  


Rep. Gosar: Civil Suit Will Break Through Fast and Furious Stonewalling

Casa Grande, AZ – Today U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement after Chairman Darrell Issa filed a civil action in federal court against U.S. Attorney General Holder for failing to provide subpoenaed documents in the Operation Fast and Furious investigation.  The administration invoked executive privilege over these critical documents, and therefore has forced Congress to try to seek redress through federal court.

“If Attorney General Holder will not cooperate with legitimate Congressional oversight efforts, we must act through the courts to pursue justice for those who have lost their lives from this poorly-executed operation,” said Congressman Gosar.  “Lives are on the line, yet the President is playing a game of political chess by choosing to obstruct the truth and protect his attorney general.  This civil suit provides an opportunity for a federal court to break through the stonewalling actions of Attorney General Holder and this administration to finally shed light on the Fast and Furious cover-up.  This conduct is unacceptable – which is why I have also led the charge for a vote of “No Confidence” (H.Res. 490) in Mr. Holder, which currently has 114 members of Congress co-sponsoring it.”

In October 2011, Chairman Issa issued a subpoena requesting documents from the Department of Justice to determine who at the Department of Justice was involved in the administration and cover-up of Operation Fast and Furious.  On June 28th, 2012, after 8 months of noncooperation by the Justice Department, the House of Representatives voted to hold the Attorney General in contempt of Congress.  After the Department of Justice said they would not pursue the contempt charge largely because President Obama claimed executive privilege over the subpoenaed documents, today’s lawsuit was the only course of action left to force compliance with these lawful subpoenas.

On behalf of the Oversight Committee, the General Counsel to the House of Representatives filed the civil suit today in a Federal District Court for the District of Columbia.  To see a copy of the lawsuit, click here.

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