The long awaited Inspector General’s report on Operation Fast & Furious has been delivered to Attorney General Eric Holder, ATF, and the Department of Justice. Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa sent a letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz asking him to testify on Tuesday, September 11.
Fast & Furious was a gun walking scheme out of the ATF which allowed guns to land in the hands on Mexican drug cartels. Guns have been found at the deaths of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and 300+ Mexicans and have been found at twelve crime scenes across America. Over 1,000 guns are still missing.
No one within the ATF has been held accountable. The people have either been allowed to resign quietly or reassigned to another position. On Thursday it was revealed that a main player is on paid leave by the ATF while holding a lucrative job with J.P. Morgan.
Last month the House of Representatives voted to hold Mr. Holder in contempt of Congress. Last October Mr. Holder was issued a subpoena and despite many opportunities to comply he stonewalled Congress. Chairman Issa bent over backwards to receive anything and still received nothing.
The Democrats have tried to convince themselves the American public doesn’t care much about this case, but a poll last month showed 53% supported the contempt vote and 69% people wanted President Obama to release the documents. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has even claimed this is about voter ID laws.
The House did file a civil contempt lawsuit against Mr. Holder.
Chairman Issa used this evidence to encourage Mr. Horowitz not to delay releasing the report.
“It would be regrettable if senior department officials applied political pressure on you to delay publication of this report,” wrote Chairman Issa. “Given the considerable public interest in this case and the attorney general’s own purported interest in learning the recommendations set forth in your report in order to make important management changes, it is incumbent upon you to release this report as soon as practicable.”