Cramer Statement on Judges Rejection of Executive Privilege for Fast and Furious Documents

Statement

Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement today after a federal judge turned down President Obama's claim of executive privilege in relation to Congress' attempts to obtain documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. The refusal of the White House to turn over the records led to a House vote in 2012 holding then-Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. The House later filed a lawsuit to try to force disclosure of the files.

"It is time for the administration to level with the American people and release all of the details surrounding this failed program. When a government program results in the murder of countless Mexican citizens and possibly a federal border patrol agent, Congress needs to exercise its oversight authority and conduct a complete and exhaustive investigation to ensure mistakes are not repeated and the appropriate authorities are held responsible. The President's needless use of executive authority only prolongs the pain and suffering experienced by the families of the victims and prevents the American people from knowing how this program resulted in the deaths of so many people."

Fast and Furious was a program started by the United States Department of Justice whose stated goal was to track and identify high-level drug cartel figures in Mexico by allowing licensed firearms dealers to sell weapons to known traffickers. It failed to track the weapons once they crossed the border into Mexico where they ended up in the hands of violent drug gangs. On December 15, 2010, Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was shot and killed in Arizona by illegal immigrants using two rifles possibly linked to this program.

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