Meehan calls on Holder to testify on 'Fast and Furious'

Former U.S. Attorney says AG's insight needed to ensure “ill-conceived" operations never happen again

Springfield, PA – Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calling on him to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

“As a former U.S. Attorney, I urge you to appear because in this serious and tragic case, we do owe it to the American people to conduct a thorough investigation and conduct responsible, proper oversight – not engage in a partisan witch hunt,” Meehan stated in the letter. “Our shared goal is to uncover the truth and identify the right lessons-learned so this never happens again – not in scoring political points.

Meehan, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, questioned a senior Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) official during a July 26 hearing on the Fast and Furious Operation. Click here to watch the exchange.

Below is the complete text of the letter.

October 18, 2011

The Honorable Eric Holder

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Holder:

                I am writing to respectfully urge you to appear before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to answer important questions on the “Fast and the Furious” operation. As a former U.S. Attorney from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, I believe your testimony can provide critical insight into this matter and help ensure that this never happens again.

                Unfortunately, the public – and the Committee – has more questions than answers about this ill-fated anti-gun-trafficking program. When senior officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives appeared before the Committee in July, they were asked repeatedly how this operation was instigated and who along the chain of command approved it. No serious answers were forthcoming, and that is unacceptable.  If it is true, as some believe, that this controversial program was conducted by local agents without the knowledge of senior Justice Department officials, then surely we need to know how such an ill-conceived and wide-ranging operation was allowed in the first place. And for that, we need your insight.

                I agree with the Committee’s ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program Sunday that Democrats “want a responsible and balanced investigation because we are the Oversight and Government Reform committee … You cannot reform anything unless you have all the information … You look at the entire picture. That simply has not happened yet.”

            While the Committee has done important work on this issue, I believe only through your testimony can we conclude a “responsible and balanced investigation” that collects “all the information” that Ranking Member Cummings seeks.

As a former U.S. Attorney, I urge you to appear because in this serious and tragic case, we do owe it to the American people to conduct a thorough investigation and conduct responsible, proper oversight – not engage in a partisan witch hunt. Our shared goal is to uncover the truth and identify the right lessons-learned so this never happens again – not in scoring political points.

Sincerely,

Patrick Meehan

Member of Congress

###