DOJ to House Republicans: Let's resolve 'Fast and Furious' issue

The Justice Department told House Republican leaders on Tuesday it was working to reach “a mutually acceptable resolution” to grant Congress access to information about a botched gun-tracking operation and avoid contempt proceedings from Attorney General Eric Holder.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole — in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) — said the DOJ was working hard to respond to questions the GOP leaders raised in a letter to Holder nearly three weeks ago.

The Republicans asked Holder to reveal to lawmakers the people in DOJ’s leadership ranks who knew about the controversial “gun-walking” tactics used in the "Fast and Furious" operation before December 2010. They also asked Holder whether anyone in Justice’s leadership misled or misinformed lawmakers in response to a congressional subpoena.

Cole told the GOP leadership that their letter had been "helpful" and that DOJ was working diligently to answer their questions in full.

“Following the receipt of your letter, the Department has had a number of constructive conversations with staff aimed at satisfying the legitimate goals of congressional oversight while, at the same time, ensuring the integrity and independence of the department's law enforcement efforts,” Cole wrote.

“[The letter] was a helpful step toward reaching a resolution of the issues in dispute,” Cole said in his letter.

“We are hopeful that these ongoing conversations will lead to a mutually acceptable resolution of these issues and continue to provide the kinds of information that would answer your questions. While our staffs continue to discuss these issues, I want to reiterate that I remain available to meet with you personally.”

The Republican letter last month came on the heels of Issa’s attempt, as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to rally support for a draft copy of a resolution that would place Holder in contempt of Congress for not providing documents in response to a subpoena he issued last October.

The letter from leadership was the first time the top GOP lawmakers officially weighed in on the issue since Issa began his investigation into Fast and Furious 15 months ago.

Boehner, Cantor and McCarthy wrote to Holder, telling him that, “if necessary, the House will act to fulfill our Constitutional obligations in the coming weeks.”

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