The first page of the letter from Attorney General Eric Holder revealing that Americans have been killed in counterterrorism operations. Click to read more.
It put the American people at risk and that is not hyperbole. Trying to determine who was responsible required very aggressive action.U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder • Defending the Department of Justice’s decision to collect roughly two months worth of various Associated Press employees’ work and personal phone records as part of a criminal investigation. The DoJ is apparently investigating a leak which occured last year, revealing the existence of a failed plot to bomb a U.S. plane, during a time when the Obama Administration insisted the U.S. government was unaware of any terror attacks which might be planned to coincide with the annviersary of Osama bin Laden’s death. source
There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters. These records potentially reveal communications with confidential sources across all of the newsgathering activities undertaken by the AP during a two-month period, provide a road map to AP’s newsgathering operations and disclose information about AP’s activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know.Associated Press President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Pruitt • In a letter, sent to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, denouncing the Justice Department’s decision to acquire the phone records of AP journalists as well as a number of the wire service’s offices over a two-month period. The move came as a result of a 2012 AP story which leaked the news of a foiled attack on the anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death. The move, which followed the Obama administration’s general policy of trying to shut down leaks, nonetheless was disowned by the White House. “We are not involved in decisions made in connection with criminal investigations, as those matters are handled independently by the Justice Department,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. “Any questions about an ongoing criminal investigation should be directed to the Department of Justice.” The move has been condemned by many journalists.
Rand Paul’s 12+ hour filibuster about drones gets a succinct 43-word response.
This may be the shortest letter ever written by a government official.
(Source: think-progress)
Politico reveals three members of President Obama’s cabinet who willbe retained in Term Two. No huge shockers here, although there were whispers a few months back that Holder might be resigning after the election. There’s no word as to exactly how long Holder, Sebelius and Shineski will stay on, but unlike Tim Geithner, Hilda Solis and Hillary Clinton, they won’t be leaving anytime soon.
The investigation was launched by the DOJ’s Inspector General’s office, which recommended that the Justice Department consider disciplining the 14 agents named. Holder said today that the report would be reviewed with “consideration of potential personnel actions.”
What’s more notable? The fact that the House of House of Representatives will initiate contempt proceedings against Eric Holder over Fast and Furious documents? Or the fact that a news outlet finally provided the correct pronunciation of John Boehner’s name? You be the judge. (Photo credit: AP). source
During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” host Chris Wallace asked Issa whether he had “any evidence” that the White House had been involved with the matter.
“No, we don’t,” Issa said.
The Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms apparently allowed some gun sales in Arizona to known Mexican criminals. Two of the guns involved were found at the scene of a firefight in which U.S. Customs Agent Brian Terry was killed.
In February 2011, DOJ sent a letter to Congress denying such sales, but retracted that claim in December. It is not clear if either Attorney General Eric Holder or President Barack Obama were aware of the program, and Issa acknowledged Sunday that he has not found evidence Holder was involved.
“I did not say that Eric Holder always knew,” Issa said.
Issa previously suggested at a National Rifle Association conference that the Obama administration attempted to stir up controversy with Fast and Furious in an effort to push an assault rifle ban. This is despite the fact that the Bush administration, which opposed gun control, used similar programs.
U.S. guns have been widely used by Mexican drug cartels. While U.S. gun dealers aren’t supposed to sell weapons to the cartels, a lot of dealers have been selling guns to straw purchasers who smuggle the guns to the cartels. The ATF could arrest and prosecute some individual gun smuggler, but…
In case you needed a quick explainer of F&F, Squashed has you covered.
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» SFB says: To suggest that Fast and Furious — specifically in regards to the executive privilege portion of the case, not the part involving the guns — is a bigger deal than the Sandusky case is a major downplaying of the seriousness of the Sandusky case. Also, liveblogging is a different beast than individual posts — we did a pretty decently detailed post on the Eric Holder saga on Thursday. So, we disagree. Also, we don’t have anonymous messaging turned on, so no clue how you managed to send us this. — Ernie @ SFB
Eric Holder facing contempt resolution: With the ongoing “Fast and Furious” gun-trafficking saga reaching a head in Congress, Holder will likely face a contempt resolution from the the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — the one led by Rep. Darrell Issa, one of the harshest “Fast and Furious” critics. Holder knows what’s coming — he sent a letter to Obama asking the president to claim executive privilege on the documents in the case, which the president granted (though the committee hasn’t received). Problem is, the committee is still moving forward — in particular, Issa won’t back down. Sweat, meet brow. (photo by Ryan J. Reilly) source
![U.S. DOJ files first round of criminal charges related to Gulf Oil Spill
Evidence reportedly destroyed by ex-BP employee: Former BP engineer Kurt Mix was arrested today, charged with two counts of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying evidence requested by federal investigators. The charges are the first to be filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, related to the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, but may not be the last according to Attorney General Eric Holder. Holder told reporters that the Deepwater Horizon Task Force will “[continue] its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law.” If found guilty on both charges, Mix faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and half a million dollars in fines. (Photo by SkyTruth) source
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Evidence reportedly destroyed by ex-BP employee: Former BP engineer Kurt Mix was arrested today, charged with two counts of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying evidence requested by federal investigators. The charges are the first to be filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, related to the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, but may not be the last according to Attorney General Eric Holder. Holder told reporters that the Deepwater Horizon Task Force will “[continue] its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law.” If found guilty on both charges, Mix faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and half a million dollars in fines. (Photo by SkyTruth) source
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust suit against Apple, along with fellow publishers Holtzbrinck Publishers (MacMillan) and The Penguin Publishing Co. Ltd. (Penguin Group), accusing the companies of conspiring to raise the prices of ebooks. The lawsuits follow months of negotiations between the publishers, the DoJ, and state governments in an attempt to agree on a settlement. Apple has not publicly responded to the suit; however, MacMillan CEO John Sargent sent a letter to publishers and agent explaining that the company did not settle because it is “hard to settle a lawsuit when you know you have done no wrong.” (photo by Phil Photostream) source
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