House Panel Cites Holder for Contempt

Darrell Issa's House panel has voted along party lines to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt, reports Politico. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee acted after Holder refused to comply with a subpoena to hand over documents related to Fast and Furious, the gun-surveillance program that went awry among the cartels of Mexico. President Obama invoked executive privilege over some of the documents earlier today, but that wasn't enough to deter the vote. The measure will probably reach the floor of the House next week.

• Holder: The move is a "divisive action," he said. "It's an election-year tactic intended to distract attention—and, as a result—has deflected critical resources from fulfilling what remains my top priority at the Department of Justice: protecting the American people."
• Issa: “Our purpose has never been to hold the attorney general in contempt. Our purpose has always been to get the information the committee needs to complete its work—that it is not only entitled to, but obligated to do.”

(More attorney general stories.)