Skip to Content

Press Releases

Latta Statement on Contempt of Congress Vote

Washington, DC, June 28, 2012 | Erin Partee (202-225-6405)

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) issued the following statement on the passage of the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for obstructing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s investigation into Operation Fast and Furious:

“The Department of Justice has failed to cooperate with a congressional subpoena for documents detailing this tragic and reckless program.  Furthermore, the President’s assertion of executive privilege protecting these documents calls into question earlier statements by the Attorney General that high level department officials were not involved.  The facts of this dangerous operation must be uncovered and it is Congress’ duty to hold Attorney General Holder accountable for blocking the investigation and force him to comply. ”

Operation Fast and Furious was a Department of Justice initiative that allowed roughly two thousand firearms to fall into the hands of drug cartels, one of which was linked to the death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.  With the approval of the contempt of Congress resolution, the case will be referred to a U.S. Attorney for prosecution.  Should the Department of Justice not comply with enforcement, the House also passed a civil contempt resolution which would allow the Committee to bring the matter to court to force the Attorney General to comply with the subpoena. 

Back to top