Research

Watch Attorney General Eric Holder Struggle To Answer Simple Question About Fast And Furious:

Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT): “Let me ask you the fundamental question and give you a chance to be more precise. When did you first learn of the operational tactics being used in Operation Fast and Furious and what did you do about it?”

Attorney General Eric Holder:  “I first learned about the tactics and the phrase Operation Fast and Furious in the beginning of this year, I think when it became a matter of public controversy. In my testimony before the House committee, I did say ‘a few weeks.’ I probably could have said ‘a couple of months.’ I don't think that what I said in terms of using the term ‘a few weeks,’ was inaccurate based on what happened. I got from – as Senator Grassley indicated – a couple of letters from him at the end of January, I believe it was January 31st. These letters talked about a connection between an operation and the death of Agent Terry. It did not mention Fast and Furious; it referenced Operation Gunrunner. I asked my staff to look into this and during the month of February I became aware of Fast and Furious from press reports and other letters that I received from Senator Grassley. I asked my staff to get to the bottom of that matter. We received information from ATF and from the United States Attorney’s office in Phoenix that contradicted some of these public reports. It became clear to me that the matter needed to somehow be resolved. So as you indicated Mr. Chairman, on February 28, I asked the Department of Justice and Inspector General to investigate Operation Fast and Furious. On March 9, I directed the Deputy Attorney General to instruct all prosecutors and agents throughout the Justice Department not to engage in these flawed tactics that we found in Operation Fast and Furious. On March 9^th I also confirmed the existence of the IG investigation. On March 10th, I testified about this matter before the Senate Appropriations Committee. So clearly by the time I testified in May before the House committee, I had known about Fast and Furious for several weeks, as I indicated, a couple of months. But the focus on which day or month I think in some ways is a bit of a distraction and does nothing to address what I think concerns us most, and that is the flow of weapons from the United States across the southwest border.”

(Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 11/8/11)

Holder Still Not Getting His Facts Straight On Fast And Furious, Which Explains Why He Couldn’t Answer A Simple Question About It

FACT CHECK - Attorney General Eric Holder Was Told About “Fast And Furious” As Early As July 2010. “As early as July 2010, Holder was told in written briefings that 1,500 guns had been provided to the Sinaloa cartel under Fast and Furious, but testifying on May 3 Holder said he'd first heard of the operation in the ‘last few weeks.’” (Tim Steller, “Rhetoric, Conspiracy Theories, Politics Muddle Reality Of Fast And Furious,” Arizona Daily Star, 11/1/11)