Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats demanded Attorney General Eric Holder’s resignation over Operation Fast and Furious on Thursday.
“The American people have lost confidence and trust in the attorney general,” Coats said in a statement. “Americans deserve answers and an independent attorney general who is honest with the public and puts the country above politics. Unfortunately, that has not been the case with our current chief law enforcement officer who refuses to cooperate with Congress.”
“I am also concerned with the attorney general’s ability to handle the investigation of recent national security leaks,” Coats, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, added. “These reckless intelligence leaks require serious attention free from political partisanship. I do not believe the attorney general has the level of support to provide the trusted leadership needed to investigate these damaging national security breaches. It is my belief that Attorney General Holder’s resignation is in the best interest of the American people.”
Coats joins Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Orrin Hatch of Utah, John Cornyn of Texas, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Johnny Isakson of Georgia in demanding Holder step down over Fast and Furious.
Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, two sitting governors and 129 House members have demanded Holder’s resignation as well.
President Barack Obama asserted executive privilege on Wednesday to allow Holder to conceal Fast and Furious documents from Congress. Also on Wednesday, House oversight committee Chairman Darrell Issa’s committee voted 23-17 to hold Holder in contempt. If Holder fails to provide Congress with subpoenaed Fast and Furious documents, House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor plan to bring the contempt of Congress resolution to the full house for a floor vote next week.