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| Project Gunwalker: Holder Denies Prior Knowledge |
| 2011-09-09 |
| The head of the U.S. Justice Department launched his strongest personal defense yet in the growing furor over Operation Fast and Furious, the controversial sting targeting Mexican drug cartels and American gunrunners. On Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder said for the first time that not only he but also other higher-ups at the Justice Department were not aware of the operation as it was being carried out. Holder also suggested politics could be a driving force behind Republican lawmakers' forceful inquiries into the matter. "The notion that somehow or other this thing reaches into the upper levels of the Justice Department is something that. ... I don't think is supported by the facts," Holder told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Washington. "It's kind of something I think certain members of Congress would like to see, the notion that somehow or other high-level people in the department were involved. As I said, I don't think that is going to be shown to be the case -- which doesn't mean that the mistakes were not serious." A spokeswoman for the Republican leading a congressional investigation described Holder's comments as baseless "whining," and earlier Wednesday the House Republican himself said the issue is about more than who knew what, when. "Whenever you talk about human mistakes, you have to say, 'What was in the system that allowed that human mistake to go on and perpetuate itself?'" Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said on Fox News Channel. The notion that somehow or other this thing reaches into the upper levels of the Justice Department is something that. ... I don't think is supported by the facts," Holder told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Washington. "It's kind of something I think certain members of Congress would like to see, the notion that somehow or other high-level people in the department were involved. As I said, I don't think that is going to be shown to be the case -- which doesn't mean that the mistakes were not serious." A spokeswoman for the Republican leading a congressional investigation described Holder's comments as baseless "whining," and earlier Wednesday the House Republican himself said the issue is about more than who knew what, when. "Whenever you talk about human mistakes, you have to say, 'What was in the system that allowed that human mistake to go on and perpetuate itself?'" Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said on Fox News Channel. "Our committee is the Government [Oversight and] Reform Committee," Issa said Wednesday. "We are about making sure that there is a system to prevent this in the future. When we have assurances that system is in place then our job is done." But Holder seemed to question whether that is all Issa and other Republican critics are after. "My hope would be that Congress will conduct an investigation that is factually based and not marred with politics," Holder said. Holder has said repeatedly he was not aware of the operation as it was unfolding, and others have said no one at the Justice Department in Washington was informed of it, but Issa insists Holder at least "should have known." Holder, however, noted he leads a massive department with all sorts of functions and obligations "There are an awful lot of things that go on in the Justice Department," he said. "There's Operation Fast and Furious, [and] I'm sure there's Operation 'Fill In The Blank' going on right now that the people here in the department are not aware of." Holder said he, as head of the department, has tried to "place in the field the responsibility and the discretion for enforcement activities," while setting "broad parameters here in the department" that he expects to be followed outside of Washington. Holder has repeatedly denounced the tactics used in Operation Fast and Furious, calling the operation Wednesday a "flawed enforcement effort." |
| Posted by:Sherry in Arkansas |
| #16 Yokay, I'll say it .... **** cough **** cough ***** cough **** ... |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-09-09 21:57 |
| #15 "It's kind of something I think certain members of Congress would like to see, the notion that somehow or other high-level people in the department were involved. As I said, I don't think that is going to be shown to be the case -- which doesn't mean that the mistakes were not serious." The grammar of Obfuscese: use the vaguest subject possible, use passive voice to deflect blame, hide point, or lack of it, under murky prose. |
| Posted by: mom 2011-09-09 17:51 |
| #14 It's called 'vicarious liability'. He knew or should have known. |
| Posted by: OCCD 2011-09-09 15:09 |
| #13 It's easy to tell when Holder's lying. His lips are moving. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2011-09-09 14:56 |
| #12 Eric Holder Denies Prior Knowledge Of ‘Fast And Furious’ After Bragging About Prior Knowledge Of ‘Fast And Furious’ Now, witness 2009 Eric Holder not only acknowledging the program, but ‘bragging’ he was in the process of expanding it: (justice.gov) “Last week, our administration launched a major new effort to break the backs of the cartels. My department is committing 100 new ATF personnel to the Southwest border in the next 100 days to supplement our ongoing Project Gunrunner, DEA is adding 16 new positions on the border, as well as mobile enforcement teams, and the FBI is creating a new intelligence group focusing on kidnapping and extortion. DHS is making similar commitments, as Secretary Napolitano will detail.” |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-09-09 14:43 |
| #11 Mods - Is there a picture of burning pants in the Burg's photo collection? |
| Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2011-09-09 13:04 |
| #10 But emails about F&F were sent to upper advisors at the White House.... but Eric didn't know? Is he that stupid? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2011-09-09 11:59 |
| #9 Why not both? One day both Barack Obama and Eric Holder will be featured in America's Dumbest Criminals. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2011-09-09 11:09 |
| #8 So - you're either a criminal or you're incompetent to hold the office you do. Which is it? |
| Posted by: Guillibaldo Hatrack1304 2011-09-09 10:52 |
| #7 Attorney General Eric Holder said for the first time that not only he but also other higher-ups at the Justice Department were not aware of the operation Oh really? Shouldn't you have been aware of this? |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2011-09-09 09:57 |
| #6 The notion that somehow or other this thing reaches into the upper levels of the Justice Department is something that. ...I don't think is supported by the facts. As I said, I don't think that is going to be shown to be the case -- which doesn't mean that the mistakes were not serious. Young Eric, The Master Bubba has taught you well in the acient art of Non-denial denial. I did not have I don't think. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2011-09-09 09:51 |
| #5 There is no denial, only confidence in the cover ups. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-09-09 09:36 |
| #4 The notion that somehow or other this thing reaches into the upper levels of the Justice Department is something that. ... I don't think is supported by the facts," How can anyone tell? You won't RELEASE the facts, even to the Congressional information demands? Guilt is certainly suggested by all the denials, delays, redactions etc. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2011-09-09 09:25 |
| #3 the notion that somehow or other high-level people in the department were involved, I don't think is supported by the facts," Holder told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Washington. "I don't think that is going to be shown to be the case." Sounds like he's pretty confident the cover up will work. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-09-09 09:19 |
| #2 These responses from 'government officials' starting to sound more and more like those in an Urdu Press release. At least Jinns aren't involved....yet. This weeks 'nuggets'. (Love the artwork) |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2011-09-09 09:12 |
| #1 And then his lips fell off. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2011-09-09 08:36 |