Are House Republicans preparing contempt charges against Eric Holder or not?
Earlier today, as I was perusing the internet looking for stories to write about, I came across a story at The Daily Caller entitled “Issa, Boehner at odds over holding Holder in contempt of Congress” and I decided this would be a great story to write about, but something happened between the time I read the article and the time when I sat down to write about it–the story disappeared from The Daily Caller.
It was being reported that Darrell Issa was preparing the citation to hold Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress on several internet news outlets, but only The Daily Caller had a story about an apparent rift between Darrell Issa and John Boehner and now that story is gone, but when I went back to The Daily Caller I found that there was now a new edited version of the story.
Luckily I found the original version of the story on yahoo news and you can read it here and once you read that version you can read the new version of the story here, interestingly enough the new version of the story does mention the fact they originally reported about the possible rift between Issa and Boehner even though they edited it out of the new version.
The House Republicans are now saying that there are no immediate contempt charges being filed against Eric Holder and reports that charges are imminent are inaccurate, and that is the gist of the new version of the story at The Daily Caller. So what is going on here?
It appears as if Darrell Issa is drawing up the papers to be prepared in the event that House leadership agrees to move forward on contempt charges, and it appears to me as if John Boehner may indeed be an obstacle here as he has not yet committed to a decision on moving forward with contempt charges and Darrell Issa needs the leadership in the House onboard if anything is going to come from this.
I believe the original article on The Daily Caller was correct; there is a rift between Darrell Issa and John Boehner and once it leaked to the media the House Republicans went into full CYA mode and banded together by stating that this was still in the deliberation process and no decision had yet been made at this time. This might in fact be true but it is only true because John Boehner is delaying the decision in my opinion.
Interestingly enough I think my theory is proven in the last paragraph of the original article from The Daily Caller:
Boehner has not called for Holder’s resignation, nor has he been vocal about Fast and Furious save for a few times saying he backed Issa’s push for accountability. Some have speculated that Boehner put the brakes on Fast and Furious accountability momentum building late last year into early this year but Boehner’s staff vehemently denies those accusations.
Back on February 5th I wrote a post on the possibility that John Boehner was slowing down Darrell Issa’s investigation because he had already struck a deal on the Fast and Furious scandal, and now we have a report of a rift between Issa and Boehner on the contempt charges. A report which the House Republicans moved quickly to discredit and one has to wonder if these reports are true.
John Boehner has been talking a good game lately now that he is facing a tough primary challenge from a Tea Party Republican, but the fact is that he was a terrible House majority leader who was out maneuvered by Democrats on many issues and his rhetoric doesn’t quite match his accomplishments.
I believe the only reason contempt charges have not been leveled against Eric Holder is because there is an internal struggle between Darrell Issa, who is trying to get to the bottom of this, and John Boehner, who is trying to play nice with the Democrats, and this in just one more reason why John Boehner needs to be removed from the speakership if the Republicans manage to hold on to the House in November.
America's Watchtower 
I heard Issa issued some subpoenas for documents today. Hopefully that’s not a compromise in iieu of contempt charges. Boehner better get smart or his primary opponent will be able to use this against him. I would.
LikeLike
I hadn’t heard Issa asked for more documents today, I don’t think this would be in lieu of charges. The rumor is that the contempt charges will come arounf Memorial Day. As for Boehner; the better wake up soon or he will be out of a job in November. Even if he wins he needs to be removed from the Speaker position.
LikeLike
I think the GOP is weighing whether this would help or harm them in the Fall. Help in that it might spotlight corruption in Obama’s admin but harm in that they could be painted as not caring about the economy and simply trying to investigate Holder.
LikeLike
It is an interesting balancing act Harrison and I am sure Obama will say this is a distraction and he is focusing on the economy while the Republicans are simply attacking him.
LikeLike
I believe the documents are drawn up but the disconnect is when to issue them.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/apr/27/gowdy-and-issa-contempt-charges-holder-coming-memo/
“According to Matt Boyle at The Daily Caller, House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, appears to have a difference of opinion with Mr. Issa as to when a contempt citation should be green lit.”
LikeLike
That might be what is going on. It does seem like they are preparing the papers for when they do decide to move. I just hope they do move on this because I fear Boehner doesn’t want to do this at all.
LikeLike
The problem is that few know about what has lead up to this. It has been a non story, thus it will appear to come from out of the blue. Boehner has to go… if there was any difference of opinion, it should not have been leaked. It makes the GOP appear in disarray which of course they are!
LikeLike
Boehner does have to go, you are right about that. We can complain about the MSM all we want, and it is justified, but we can also blame Boehner for not getting out there every day and hammering this home so that everyone would know about it. That is what Pelosi would have done if it were Bush who did this.
LikeLike
Is it possible that not only did they not get approval to post the original story, but that they were smacked down and had to remove it in its’ original form? I can’t imagine that any place other than blogs like this have the ability to post what they want anymore.
LikeLike
That is a thought that crossed my mind, but I think it is likely they posted the story without checking into it and when they did they were “persuaded” that is was false so they “updated” the original and re-released it.
LikeLike
I’m confused. I read this a Fox News.com this morning:
“GOP Rep. Darrell Issa confirmed to Fox News that House Speaker John Boehner gave him and others on his House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform the authority to drafted a contempt of Congress resolution.”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/27/issa-chaffetz-confirm-contempt-plans-for-holder-over-fast-and-furious/as-oblivious-to-crying-son-after-foul-ball/?test=latestnews#ixzz1tLATurkK
LikeLike
I saw the same thing, I’m glad that I am not the only one confused.
LikeLike
The two of you aren’t the only ones confused, I am as well. There have been many different stories on this issue and I think it is partly because the GOP has done a horrible job of staying on the same page related to this issue. They have released confusing and contrasting stories on this.
LikeLike
As for Boner, keep in mind the old time worn axiom, ” A stiff prick has no conscience.”
LikeLike
I guess that’s one way to put it. 🙂
LikeLike
Ha ha, PMc, leave it to you to say that! True, but just leave it to you!
LikeLike
John Boehner needs to stop being part of the problem. There is no doubt that DOJ is stonewalling this:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-57423389-10391695/governments-answer-to-fast-and-furious-records-requests-blank-pages/
Government’s answer to “Fast and Furious” records requests: Blank pages
LikeLike
In one of the appendixes in Katie Pavlich’s book she includes all the blank pages and it is laughable that Holder can say with a straight place that releasing these pages is compliance with the request.
LikeLike
Let me comment on John Boehner’s part in this. He does have a delicate balancing act to conduct. The media will be all over him if he goes after the Obama administration very strongly. He obviously doesn’t want to put the Republicans in a worse light than they already are.
Having said that, I think he has done a poor job as Speaker. I have no doubt, his job isn’t easy, but he seems to make it harder than it is. He always seems to be a step behind the Democrats and that is the last thing we need.
LikeLike
It’s a good point Larry, the media will attack the messenger here instead of looking into the charges and I am sure Boehner knows this. Now is the time for leadership and maybe if the Republicans had been more outspoken on this from the beginning the media would have been forced to cover it.
LikeLike
Boner won’t do ANYTHING, he has NO balls and NO spine, he’s as worthless as tits on a Nun..
LikeLike
There is no doubt in my mind that Boehner is slowing this whole thing down because he just doesn’t have the guts to move forward with this.
LikeLike