Obama Asserts Executive Privilege to Hide Involvement in Fast and FuriousSusanne Posel, Contributor The House Oversight Committee (HOC), headed by Chair Darrell Issa, is flat out demanding that classified and undisclosed documents that show the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Attorney General Eric Holder were directly involved with the FF operation. Just as the Oversight Committee votes on holding Holder in contemptor not, Obama claims a thinly veiled retreat; perhaps to mitigate his exposed connection to the DoJs involvement in the ruined operation. Holder had attempted to subvert responsibility by offering to negotiate with Congress; yet Issa refused, moving forward with a motion for contempt of Congress. Issa asserts: The committee has uncovered serious wrongdoing by the Justice Department. That wrongdoing has cost lives on both sides of the border. The DoJ is choosing to call out their authority and hope to intimidate the HOC into ceasing all pursuant activity. By citing that the DoJs Attorney General has opened an investigation in FF, and that it is ongoing, supplants nothing. It only ensures by their words that getting caught during a covert operation will not occur again. Holder and Obama have been discussing how to handle the FF scandal. Choosing to hide under the cover of US presidency has only stood to fuel questions about Obamas participation, knowledge and role in the operation. Earlier this week, Holder advised Obama to use his executive privilege card concerning the internal documents of the FF operations that would have significant, damaging consequences. Holder went on to explain that handing over the documents to Congress would inhibit candor of such Executive Branch deliberations in the future and significantly impair the Executive Branchs ability to respond independently and effectively to congressional oversight. In an effort to downplayObamas use of executive privilege, Eric Schultz, White House spokesman said: dating back to President Reagan, presidents have asserted executive privilege 24 times. President Obama has gone longer without asserting the privilege in a congressional dispute than any president in the last three decades. Executive privilege can be overturned with a court order; however, history shows it is resolved mostly throughnegotiations. The HOC has decided to hold Holder in contempt for failing to cooperate with their congressional inquiry into FF. Holder asserted that the HOC action was divisive and does nothing to make any of our law enforcement agents safer. He maintains that his job is to protect the American people and this Committee is subverting his efforts to execute his job properly. The family of Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry, who was killed by member of a Mexican drug cartel with guns that the DoJ provided them through FF, has come forth to respondto Obamas use of executive privilege. Their statement reads that: President Obamas assertion of executive privilege serves to compound this tragedy. It denies the Terry family and the American people the truth. The Terry family have been requesting for over a year and a half for the US government to hold those responsible within the government to justice and accountability. They recognize that it is very disappointing that [the Terry family] are now faced with an administration that seems more concerned with protecting themselves rather than revealing the truth behind Operation Fast and Furious. Susanne Posel is the Chief Editor of Occupy Corporatism. Our alternative news site is dedicated to reporting the news as it actually happens; not as it is spun by the corporately funded mainstream media. You can find us on ourFacebook page. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 