Holder gave 'deceptive and misleading' testimony, House Republicans say
Washington (CNN) – House Republicans issued a report Wednesday finding that Attorney General Eric Holder gave "deceptive and misleading" testimony, but abandoned accusations that he had perjured himself in May during a hearing on the government's seizure of journalists' phone and email records.
The House Judiciary Committee's Republicans launched an investigation after the hearing because Holder claimed not to know of any potential prosecution of members of the press in leak investigations. After the hearing, the Justice Department acknowledged that Holder had signed a search warrant to seize emails from Fox News Channel reporter James Rosen. The search warrant included a declaration that Rosen was a "co-conspirator" in the leak probe targeting a former State Department contractor.
"The Committee finds that Mr. Holder's sworn testimony in the Rosen matter was deceptive and misleading," the report says. "No amount of law-making can restore credibility and professionalism to the Justice Department in the wake of these revelations. The only way to achieve this goal is through an improvement in the quality of leadership at the Justice Department."
Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said "The report was produced on a purely partisan basis. Its purported findings are contrary to the record and strongly disputed by many of the committee's own members."
In his testimony at the May hearing Holder said "[w]ith regard to potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material, that is not something that I have ever been involved, heard of, or would think would be a wise policy."
Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, sent their report to President Barack Obama asking that he oust Holder. They noted that Holder's "simple and direct statement had the intended effect – to leave the members of the Committee with the impression...that nothing comparable to the Rosen search warrant had ever been executed by your administration."
The Justice Department has said Holder was accurate in his testimony because there was never any intent to charge Rosen with a crime.
Holder has since announced an overhaul of rules governing leak investigations, adding hurdles before prosecutors can subpoena journalist records.
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Just like Dick Cheney????
The house republicans "abandoned accusations that he perjured himself", yet are still trying to build something out of nothing, which is exactly what they have come up with? That seems "deceptive and misleading" to me.
Of course he lied! That was plain when he did it. The question is will he get away with it? You bet he will. This government is broken. Can't wait to see what the spin for it will be. All smoke and mirrors!
Holder is the most corrupt Attorney General in US History. OBAMA is Close to Alot of Radicals Just look up Obama Radical Friends click on Obamafiles to read about his far left friends.
lie to me once shame on you LIE TO ME TWICE SHAME ON ME FOR BEING STUPID! YOU GUYS GET THE PICTURE I'M TRYING TO PAINT HERE?
The sun also rose and will set later today but I bet the rethugs/tea trolls would dispute it and go against nature if they could.
Actually they can. They don't believe in climate change. How silly of me to expect any reasoning from these fools.
What does the GOP hate as much a black President? A black AG. The GOP doesn't even attempt to hide their racism any more, they just wear it like some backwards badge of honor.
Anything that will "stick it" to the Obama administration. Remember what Obi Wan Kenobe said, "it is all a matter of perspective." The other point is how many Democrats from the committee signed off on this letter.
Ratpublicans .... one fake crisis after another . They should all get kicked out of office !
The GOP slobs have 0 credibility with the American people except for their brain dead supporters that are only 20 percent of voters and going even lower and will disappear eventually to 0 percent.
We have got to eliminate these GOP/Tea Nut hate mongers. They have been doing everything in their power to ruin and discred Mr Obama. The party of NO (compromise), have got to GO!