House Republicans release final Holder contempt resolution

By Pete Kasperowicz - 06/22/12 06:22 PM ET

Republicans late Friday released the final version of the resolution asserting that Attorney General Eric Holder is in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over documents related to the Fast and Furious gun-walking operation.

The crux of the resolution is just three paragraphs:

"Resolved, That Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the United States, shall be found to be in contempt of Congress for failure to comply with a congressional subpoena.

"Resolved, That pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 192 and 194, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall certify the report of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, detailing the refusal of Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, to produce documents to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as directed by subpoena, to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, to the end that Mr. Holder be proceeded against in the manner and form provided by law.

"Resolved, That the Speaker of the House shall otherwise take all appropriate action to enforce the subpoena."

Republicans have said the resolution may be brought up next week, depending on whether Holder delivers the subpoenaed documents requested by Republicans. If it is brought up for a vote, it appears likely that it would come up Tuesday at the earliest.

The House Oversight & Government Reform Committee approved both the resolution and a committee report detailing Holder's failure to comply with GOP requests for documents. But along the way, the committee approved an amendment to the committee report, mostly to include language outlining how the Obama administration asserted executive privilege this week over certain Fast and Furious documents that Republicans had requested.

That language, from Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), said this assertion was "transparently not a valid claim of privilege given its last minute nature," and said this assertion, if valid, should have been made last October, the deadline for returning documents under subpoena.

"The President has not asserted executive privilege," the Gowdy amendment states. "This assertion, however, does not change the fact that Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. is in contempt of Congress today for failing to turn over lawfully subpoenaed documents explaining the Department's role in withdrawing the false letter it sent to Congress."