Eric Holder could be jailed over ‘Fast and Furious’ docs

The House Oversight Committee has scheduled a vote for next week on whether or not to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over his refusal to turn over documents detailing the Justice Department’s notorious Fast and Furious (aka Operation Gunrunner) program, which put thousands of assault weapons in the hands of the Mexican drug cartels.

The Committee subpoenaed the documents on Oct. 12, 2011, which was followed by several unheeded warnings from Committee Chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA).

On Jan. 31, a frustrated Issa said that Holder has tried to “obstruct our investigation and deceive the public.”

Issa also made public, a letter written to Holder stating: “This committee will have no alternative but to move forward with proceedings to hold you in contempt of Congress…Your actions lead us to conclude that the department is actively engaged in a cover-up.”

Issa gave the Attorney General until Feb. 9 to comply…which he obviously did not do to the Committee’s satisfaction.

So what are the consequences for Eric Holder if he is found to be in contempt of Congress?

Under current law, if a subpoenaed witness refuses to either produce certain documents or to testify, the Committee may cite the individual for contempt and refer the matter to the full chamber (in this case, the U.S. House of Representatives) for action.

If the House then voted on and passed a resolution to issue a contempt citation, the Sergeant-at-Arms for the House would be tasked with arresting Holder.

The Attorney General would then be brought to the House floor to answer to the charges and could then either be released or imprisoned.

The House has the power to either imprison the defendant as a punishment, or until the witness fully complies with the subpoena.

Either way, the witness may only be held in prison until the current session of Congress ends (January 2013 in this case).

So, it is possible that Eric Holder could go to jail over failing to cooperate with Congress’ investigation.

The last time a U.S. Attorney General was held in contempt of Congress occurred on August 6, 1998, after Janet Reno refused to turn over certain Clinton administration documents to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

However, the full House did not consider the measure for a vote and the documents were eventually revealed during President Clinton’s impeachment trial.

What did Holder know and when did he actually know it?

Could Holder also be charged as an accomplice to murder?

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