On Monday, Texas Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer joined the surge in demands for Attorney General Eric Holder’s resignation over Operation Fast and Furious.
“Well, I’m not a big Eric Holder fan, and I think the way he handled Fast and Furious — the way that agency handled that —was totally unacceptable,” Neugebauer said on Lubbock, Texas radio program First News with Chad Hasty and Rex Andrew on KFYO. “I think there have been other attributes there that the attorney general has shown that bring into question whether he should continue to serve or not.” (RELATED: Full coverage of Operation Fast and Furious)
The hosts then asked Neugebauer if he’d join his congressional colleagues in demanding Holder’s resignation, and he said he would.
“Well, there is a lot of people calling for [Holder to resign],” Neugebauer said. “I think that the fact that some of these things that continue to happen in this administration, and coming out of his department, call into question his ability to do a very important job in our county. I’m kind of like other folks — I think that maybe it’s time for Mr. Holder to step down.”
Neugebauer becomes the 125th House member to demand Holder’s ouster, sign an official House resolution of “no confidence” in him, or both. Three senators, two sitting governors and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney have also publicly called for Holder to step down.
Fast and Furious was a program of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, overseen by Holder’s Department of Justice. It sent thousands of weapons to Mexican drug cartels via straw purchasers — people who legally purchased guns in the United States with the known intention of illegally trafficking them somewhere else.
At least 300 people in Mexico were killed with Fast and Furious weapons, as was Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The identities of the Mexican victims are unknown. Allegations have surfaced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata was also killed with Fast and Furious weapons.