Olson Supports Contempt of Congress Vote to Compel Holder to Inform the Public on Fast and Furious

Statement

Rep. Pete Olson's (TX-22) today issued the following statement in support of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee vote to hold U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. Holder has failed to produce documents needed to shed light on what was known and by whom with respect to Operation Fast and Furious. Holder cited executive privilege in his refusal to provide the requested documents:

"It's sad that we must resort to a contempt of Congress to get to the truth about a botched government scheme that handed guns over to drug cartels and resulted in the death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and countless Mexican citizens.

"The President and his Administration have failed in their obligation to inform the public of how this government-run operation came to be and who approved it. Hiding behind executive privilege unfortunately begs the Watergate-era question: What did the President know and when did he know it?

"The family of Brian Terry and the American public deserve answers. The only mechanism left to enforce Congress' constitutionally mandated oversight powers is to hold the Attorney General in contempt. Mr. Holder has forced the issue and gives us no choice. If contempt proceedings come before the full House, I will support the measure as it is clear this is the only way we will learn the truth."

The contempt vote will be considered on the House Floor next week. If a majority on the House Floor approve a resolution of contempt, it would be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for enforcement of the subpoena.

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