A Democratic congresswoman lashed out at today’s scheduled contempt vote against Attorney General Eric Holder as a racial move “pandering to birthers.”
The House is taking up the recommendation that the House of Representatives find Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and H.R. 706, which authorizes the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to initiate or intervene in judicial proceedings to enforce certain subpoenas.
“This Tea Party Republican resolution is a shameful and shameless political witch hunt intended to destroy an honorable man’s character,” said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), a senior whip in the House Democratic caucus.
“The only reason this unprecedented attack is taking place against our country’s first African American Attorney General is because the Tea Party Republican majority is pandering to birthers, NRA members, and other extremist right-wingers obsessed with destroying President Obama,” McCollum continued. “Eric Holder has my full support, and I reject this transparent political abuse of power.”
Democrats have also blasted the Holder action as a political in citing the National Rifle Association’s plan to score the vote.
Democratic Reps. Jim Matheson (Utah), John Barrow (Ga.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Nick Rahall (W.V.) and Mike McIntyre, (N.C) have said they will vote to find Holder in contempt. All are members of the Blue Dog caucus except Rahall.
There are 25 Blue Dogs total, and others are expected to vote against Holder as well, including Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), who is running against Richard Mourdock to fill Sen. Richard Lugar’s seat and has been openly critical of the attorney general for not turning over requested documents.
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