The 'Fast and Furious' scandal: Is Obama trying to cover it up?
The president invokes executive privilege to block the release of confidential documents, and Republicans accuse him of whitewashing an ignominious operation
On Wednesday, President Obama invoked executive privilege to prevent the release of documents related to the "Fast and Furious" operation, which House Republicans, led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), have been doggedly investigating for years. Operation Fast and Furious (2009-2011) was a botched operation in which U.S. law enforcement officials allowed drug cartels to smuggle guns into Mexico, in a bid to track the guns back to major cartel figures. Instead, the guns were used by the cartels in a spate of drug-related killings on the border. House Republicans have accused Attorney General Eric Holder of withholding important documents about the botched sting, and have threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress. Obama swooped in to protect the sensitive documents, prompting a spokesman for Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to claim that the White House "was either involved in the Fast and Furious operation or the cover-up that followed." Is Obama really engaged in a cover-up?
Yes. The executive privilege order proves it: Obama just destroyed "the White House's story that 'this isn't a cover-up' and 'the higher-ups were uninvolved in this operation,'" says Erika Johnesn at Hot Air. The extent to which the president has gone to keep these documents secret shows that they must be "much more damning" than we previously believed. "Oh, the tangled webs we weave!"
"Eric Holder asks for executive privilege on subpoenaed F&F documents"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
No. Presidents have invoked executive privilege before: "Claiming executive privilege is a pretty standard move for modern presidents in disputes with Congress," say Noreen Malone and Adam Pasick at New York. "George W. Bush and Clinton both invoked it multiple times." (To be exact, Clinton invoked it 14 times, and Bush six.) Sure, Obama himself criticized Bush when the Republican president did it, but parties out of power "invariably denounce executive privilege."
"White House asserts privilege in 'Fast & Furious' fight with Congress"
Either way, conservatives will seize on this: "If you didn't like Obama before, you hate him now," says Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post. Fast and Furious "has long been a touchstone for conservatives," and Obama's direct intervention will only fuel Republican suspicions that the president is deeply involved in the affair. Now, the scandal could be a "motivator for an already very enthusiastic Republican base to turn out in hopes of ousting President Obama from office."
"President Obama ups the political ante on 'Fast and Furious'"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published