On the recordJune 28, 2012
The gentleman from Massachusetts is absolutely correct, this is a sad and troubling day. What we see here today, Mr. Speaker, is nothing more than using the Halls of Congress for extreme partisan political purposes. {time} 1250 This case is all about a politically motivated confrontation with the executive branch on a matter that does not even begin to rise to this level. This case is not about gunwalking. Those documents have been provided and are not in dispute. The documents at issue are completely unrelated to how gunwalking was initiated in Operation Fast and Furious. The Department has produced thousands of pages of documents. The committee has interviewed two dozen officials, and the Attorney General has testified on nine occasions. This is an election-year witch hunt. I say that to the gentleman from South Carolina. This is an election-year witch hunt. During this 16- month investigation, the committee refused all Democratic requests for witnesses and hearings, as well as requests to interview any Bush administration appointees. Never in our Nation's history has the House of Representatives voted to hold a sitting Attorney General or a Cabinet member in contempt. What's different? I will tell you what's different. It is the simple fact that Republicans have a dogged determination to discredit and defeat this President at all costs. Plain and simple, it's politics. My Republican friends, do not use your majority to engage in a political stunt.…
