Texas Republican congressman Blake Farenthold refused to ask Eric Holder questions during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, saying the attorney general should “be in jail” for ignoring congressional subpoenas instead of testifying before Congress.
Farenthold’s turn for questions came towards the end of a contentious hearing. The lawmaker explained that he would not exercise his right to question the witness as a protest against Holder’s refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas for documents related to the IRS’ Tea Party targeting investigation.
“I’m committed to maintaining the constitutional balance of power and the authority this branch, this legislative branch, has,” Farenthold said. “And I just don’t think it’s appropriate that Mr. Holder be here.”
“If an American citizen had not complied with one of the Justice Department subpoenas, they would be in jail, not testifying,” he noted. “But I realize there are questions to be asked, and I’ll yield the remainder of my time to [South Carolina Republican congressman] Trey Gowdy.”
Believe it or not, a lawmaker accusing the attorney general of criminal activity was not the most contentious moment of Tuesday morning’s hearing. Farenthold’s comments were overshadowed by Holder’s tense altercation with Louie Gohmert, another Texas Republican (RELATED: Eric Holder explodes at GOP rep: ‘You don’t want to go there, buddy!’).
WATCH, via Right Scoop:
[h/t Right Scoop]
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