House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi encouraged members of her caucus to “walk out” on a floor vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over his failure to comply with a congressional subpoena related to Operation Fast and Furious documents.
“I’m very moved by the members of the Congressional Black Caucus who say they are going to walk out on this,” Pelosi said on the House floor Thursday afternoon. “Walk out on this. Perhaps that’s the best way.”
“I commend [Michigan Democratic Rep. John] Dingell for his leadership,” Pelosi added. “So we can get to the bottom of this and we can offer some solace to [slain Border Patrol agent] Brian Terry’s family.”
Dingell, the Terry family’s lifelong congressman, lost the trust of the Terry family on Thursday morning when he refused to support the contempt of Congress charges against Holder. The family said Dingell abandoned them.
“I myself said I was coming to this floor to vote against this resolution,” Pelosi continued, before saying she has now flip-flopped and will walk out herself. “I want to join my CBC colleagues when we have the walkout after we have the debate on Mr. Dingell’s [resolution].”
“I urge my colleagues to vote ‘no’ or not vote,” Pelosi added. “It’s Eric Holder one day, you don’t know who it is the next.”
In response to Pelosi’s threats, House oversight committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa said the reason why Holder is going to be held in contempt is “he’s custodian of the records” related to Fast and Furious that he’s refused to turn over.