Eric Holder’s Contempt

While being questioned about the Justice Department’s reluctance to hand over documents related to the prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation, a Texas-based Islamic charity that was shut down by the government for funding Hamas, Congressman Louie Gohmert brought up how the House held U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress in 2012 over the Fast and Furious gun running scandal.

“I realize that contempt is not a big deal to our attorney general, but it is important that we have proper oversight,” Gohmert said.

Holder snapped back: “You don’t want to go there buddy, all right? You don’t want to go there, OK?”

“I don’t want to go there?” Gohmert responded.

“No,” insisted Holder.

“About the contempt?” Gohmert asked. “You should not assume that this is not a big deal to me. I think that it was inappropriate. I think it was unjust. But never think that that was not a big deal to me. Don’t ever think that.”

“Well I’m just looking for evidence. And normally we’re known by our fruits,” Gohmert added. “And there have been no indications that it was a big deal, because your department has still not been forthcoming in producing the documents that were the subject of the contempt.”

The Texas Congressman shouldn’t be surprised — after all Holder recently told a House appropriations subcommittee that law abiding citizens should be tracked by the government when carrying a firearm.

“By making them either through finger print identification, the gun talks to a bracelet or something that you might wear,” Holder told lawmakers, “how guns can be used only by the person who is lawfully in possession of the weapon.”

The Justice Department has requested $382.1 million in increased spending for its fiscal year 2014 budget for “gun safety.” Included in the proposal is $2 million for “Gun Safety Technology” grants, which would award prizes for technologies that are “proven to be reliable and effective.”