| GOP wins contempt fight, but legal dispute looms - Atlanta Journal Constitution Jun 29th 2012, 09:17 By LARRY MARGASAK
The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Republicans have won a historic political fight to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. But the GOP likely is still a long way from obtaining documents it wants in an investigation of a bungled gun-tracking operation. 
FILE - In this June 12, 2012 file photo, Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. In email exchanges with subordinates in February and March 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder and the department's second-highest official expressed growing concern that something might have gone wrong in a federal gun-smuggling probe called Operation Fast and Furious. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) 
From left, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Md., Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Rep. Charles Rangel, D-NY, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-NY, walk out of the Capitol, arm-in-arm, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus and many House Democrats protest the vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt, Thursday, June 28, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) 
From left, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Md., Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., Rep, Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, and many House Democrats walk out of the Capitol during the vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt, Thursday, June 28, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The road leading to a possible lawsuit by the House was filled with emotion Thursday. More than 100 House Democrats boycotted the first of two contempt votes, saying Republicans were more interested in shameful election-year politics than documents. Republicans demanded the documents for an ongoing investigation, but their arguments focused more on the need for closure for the family of slain Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Two guns from the operation called Fast and Furious were found near his body after a shootout in Arizona. ___ June 29, 2012 05:26 AM EDT Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  | |
