House votes to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt

For the first time in U.S. history, a sitting attorney general has been held in contempt of Congress.

On Thursday, the GOP-led House of Representatives voted 255-67 to holdAttorney General Eric Holder in contempt over documents relating to the Fast and Furiousscandal.

Over 100 Democrats, including the 42 members of the Congressional Black Caucus,walked out of the vote, saying the Republican leadership "has articulated no legislative purpose for pursuing this course of action."

"For these reasons, we cannot and will not participate in a vote to hold the attorney general in contempt," the CBC said in a letter.

Seventeen Democrats joined the Republican majority in voting for the contempt resolution, while two Republicans voted against it. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) voted not present.

According to USA Today:

The criminal citation will [be] sent on to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia -- who works for Holder.

The civil contempt allows the House to sue Holder in court in an attempt to get the documents in question.

The White House responded by repeating the claim that gun-walking operations began under the Bush Administration.

"Yet," the Administration said, "Republicans pushed for political theater rather than legitimate Congressional oversight."

Attorney General Holder said that Republicans "have focused on politics over public safety."

"Instead of trying to correct the problems that led to a series of flawed law enforcement operations -- and instead of helping us find ways to better protect the brave law enforcement officers, like Agent Brian Terry, who keep us safe – they have led us to this unnecessary and unwarranted outcome," he added.

The House also voted to give Rep. Issa's Oversight and Government Reform Committee authority to sue the Justice Department in federal court to obtain the documents they seek.

Before the vote, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said that "no Justice Department is above the law, and no Justice Department is above the Constitution, which each of us has sworn an oath to uphold."

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