On the recordJune 28, 2012
I thank the chair for yielding. I rise today in support of the motion for civil contempt so we can get an attorney to proceed. Normally under contempt, what happens is, we vote, like we just did, to hold someone in contempt, and it's turned over to the Department of Justice--in fact, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia--to pursue in district court. Unfortunately, the U.S. attorney is an employee and reports to the Attorney General, who was just found in contempt. And I am concerned that past history of stonewalling delays that are associated with getting us information and cooperating with us on Fast and Furious will continue and, in fact, there will be no prosecution of the contempt resolution we just voted out. So it is absolutely critical that the committee be given the authority to pursue this on their own if the Justice Department is not responsive. I, therefore, urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of this civil contempt resolution.
