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Issa Escalates: Accuses Obama Of Involvement In Fast And Furious
Rep. Darrell Issa threw down the gauntlet to President Obama in a letter to the president that accuses him of being involved in the Fast and Furious operation.
Issa took issue with Obama's assertion of executive privilege over a cache of documents at the Department of Justice – including a February 2011 letter later withdrawn by the agency – that Issa believes includes information on Holder's role in Fast and Furious.
"Either you or your most senior advisers were involved in managing Operation Fast and Furious and the fallout from it, including the false Feb. 4, 2011 letter provided by the attorney general to the committee," Issa wrote to Obama. "Or, you are asserting a presidential power that you know to be unjustified solely for the purpose of further obstructing a congressional investigation."
White House spokesman Eric Schultz defended Obama's assertion of executive privilege, saying that the move is legal and has long been supported by courts even if the president is not directly involved with the documents in question.
"Our position is consistent with executive-branch legal precedent for the past three decades spanning administrations of both parties, and dating back to President Reagan's Department of Justice," said Schultz in a statement.
"The courts have routinely considered deliberative process privilege claims and affirmed the right of the executive branch to invoke the privilege even when White House documents are not involved."
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