[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER CONTEMPT VOTE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the death of U.S. Customs and Border 
Patrol Agent Brian Terry is a great loss for our nation. Congress has 
the responsibility to complete a full investigation into the events 
related to his death. That is why I supported Mr. Dingell's motion on 
June 28, 2012, to ensure a comprehensive, bipartisan and complete 
investigation into Operation Fast and Furious--including a public 
hearing, with witnesses previously prevented from testifying by the 
Majority party on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
   Unfortunately, however, House Republicans voted unanimously against 
this motion, in order to proceed instead with unprecedented, baseless 
and politically motived measures to hold Attorney General Eric Holder 
in civil and criminal contempt. I declined to participate in these 
partisan political games, and joined with my colleagues in vacating the 
House Floor in protest of the abuse of power and process demonstrated 
by the Majority Party's decision to bring H. Res. 711 and H. Res. 706 
to the full House of Representatives, before undertaking a serious 
effort to resolve the disagreement between Congress and the Department 
of Justice regarding the disclosure of materials related to Operation 
Fast and Furious. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on roll 
call votes 441 and 442.

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