Washington (CNN)-It's never too early to play hardball presidential politics. Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus penned a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an investigation of an "apparent crime" committed by President Barack Obama Monday.
According to Priebus, the crime was committed by the president, in the Map Room, with a video.
Priebus accused the president of recording a fundraising appeal in the Map Room of the White House. He said it is "not part of the White House residence, but rather 'occupied in the discharge of official duties,'" and called for the Department of Justice to investigate.
The Map Room is located on the ground floor of the White House.
"According to multiple individuals with knowledge of the White House's rooms and layout, the video appears to have been recorded in the Map Room...the White House Counsel has indicated that the video was filmed somewhere in the residential portion of the White House," Priebus said.
It is illegal to solicit contributions for a political purpose from any area of the White House "occupied in the discharge of official duties," or, used for purposes of official White House business.
But the Map Room is considered to be part of the White House residence, and has been for decades. The residence is not subject to restrictions placed on rooms used for official business.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz told CNN, "As we've said in the past, this was wholly appropriate and routinely done in past administrations."
"Many lawyers and experts have all said publicly that what this administration is doing is completely above board," Schultz fired back.
Despite the RNC's claims, both Republican and Democratic administrations have considered the Map Room as part of the White House residence.
From CNN Politics
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Once again, the rethuglicans are doing anything they can to make Obamas life miserable. Obama can't tie his shoe without someone crying foul! Pathetic!
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” – Lincoln
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand" – Jesus
Two very smart people... let's ignore them and flush everything down the toilet.
You Republicans are pitiful!! That is the best you can do. This country is going to h- in a handbasket because of your get nothing done platform and you are worried about a video. You all are so petty. Instead of worrying about nonsense, try coming yp with some solutions to the job problem which, by the way, has decreased since the Bush tax cuts for the rich were exteneded in December. Do you remember the reason was because the rich needed these tax cuts to boost the economy and hire people How did that work for you??
This Party needs to get real.....it's OK what ever their past President did but when Obama does it it's against the law. The GOP has lost it.....Republican Coburns from Oklahoma has presented his bill for cutting the budget, not only does he not want us who have put in our money to SS all these years to start receiving it until age 70, drop medicare all together and NOW he suggest some Veterans should have to pay for the medical and prescriptions. These are the men and women that claim to be so Patriotic....their Party started two wars and have sent these men and women back into battle 3 and 4 times and now he suggest they should pay for their medical and medicines.......but not a mention of cutting the outragous loopholes the rich are getting or for the rich to pay higher taxes or cut the tax credits these big corporations are getting.....but more proof they are and will continue to distroy the middle class and put all the burden on the backs of the elderly, poor, middle class and now the VETERANS.......He is just the same kind of politician he is talking about......party first country second Ameicans third.........
Rules are rules. It isn't too much to expect the top guy to lead by example and follow the law......is it?
At least Michael Steele was entertaining when he was being a buffoon. The best thing that can be said about Reince Priebus is that he has a funny name.
This is a pretty transparent and silly ploy, and I feel like the RNC probably could be much more effective focusing their attention on another issue. Even if you dislike Obama and support the RNC, this claim isn't going to do anyone any good.
The entire Republican party has lost its mind.
Reince Priebus before you go screaming for an investigation why don't you go investigate what passed Presidents both Republican and Democrats have done!!! I swear the Republican are such idiots!!! How in the world do they ever think in the future to win anything if they continue with these stupid idiotic type tactics? It seems like the entire Republican Party tries its best to appeal to those individuals that are living in the 50's or something!!! Dude the times have changed society as a whole is more progressive then who their leaders are trying to appeal to. GO SEEK MIDDLE GROUND!!!
I wonder how Mr Preibus feels about the legality of declaring war on the wrong country under false pretenses costing 4000 American lives and 150,000 innocent Iraqi lives...or about the legality of pardoning Scooter Libby after he had been lawfully convocted....slimy Rethuglican talking head
You're kidding me? Republicans are making goofy, silly and slanted charges against Obama? Honestly, how do these people have any credibility at all. I thought they cared about the "America people". Where are all the jobs they said they were going to create? How is completely slashing spending going to create jobs? Repubs are only interested in power and do not care about America as a whole, despite their flag lapels.
Yeah, hey.....let's just waste a bunch more money on something so trivial and this. The GOP is getting desperate now!!
What?The Republicans have made up another non Issue to hassle our president about?
What a friggin shock.
Is this really what politics have come to? No wonder we're in such horrible shape.
Keep ignoring our real problems so you can bicker like children to try and further your own careers and line your pockets guys, they seem to be the only things you ARE good at. Don't pay any attention to the fact that if you ruin the country much further we'll be showing up at your door to take it all back, possibly with torches and pitchforks.
Yet another pump fake to try and take the attention of the country away from the debt negotiations that the Republicans have taken to the brink. Fundamental economics should be a prerequisite for public office where you are asked to help manage public funds. The dumbing down of America is now in it's hayday with this congress.
Wake up America, call your intransigent representatives and demand that they represent America, not Norquist!!!
This is the exact reason that the Conservatives can't come to an agreement on the debt ceiling crisis. They are spending their time and efforts shoving their noses into things that don't concern them. This type of partisanship is an embarassment to the hard working people of this nation that pay these people's salaries. They need to go out and scratch through their own chicken sh*t issues before they open their uninformed mouths about the people on the other side of the aisle. Both parties could use a wakeup call.
Really? You run an entire political party and this is the best you can do? Michael Steele not looking so bad anymore, huh RNC?
They must be running out of reasons to whine so they must invent an outrage.
With a name like Reince Priebus you just know he is a weasel!
Republicans don't know what else to do to get attention.
I know what you can do with that finger. . . Mr. Preibus.
When asked what this had to do with creating jobs or fixing the budget, Priebus replied with "Neener, neener, neener", then ran out of the room after giving a nearby reporter what is popularly referred to as a 'wedgie'.
This guy should move to Kansas. He'd fit right in with the nut jobs up there at the Westboro Baptist Church.
LOL – are you really sure it wasn't Colonel Mustard in the Library with a candlestick? (According to Priebus, the crime was committed by the president, in the Map Room, with a video.)
He's worried about a map room when the nation is losing it's ability to pay it's bills on time? Chuck him to the curb.
The Republican party is disgusting. All the effort it expends trying to smear President Obama. Too bad their focus isn't on working with the President.