Holder accused of misleading Congress

last updated 8 January 2015

Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has asked President Obama to appoint an independent counsel to investigate whether Attorney General Eric Holder “committed perjury” during an investigation into the gun-trafficking operation called Fast and Furious. At a May hearing, Holder testified that he had only recently heard about the matter, but Smith produced documents suggesting that Holder was informed in 2010. During the sting, agents lost track of hundreds of guns, two of which were found at the scene where a Border Patrol agent was killed. Holder’s testimony “was consistent and truthful,” said a Justice Department spokeswoman.