Monday, June 6, 2011

Eric Holder's New Favorite Song

I think Attorney General Eric Holder will have a new favorite song come next Monday around  1pm. It will be The Carpenters' "Rainy Days and Mondays" which has this lyric in the fourth stanza:
No need to talk it out

We know what its all about

Hanging around, nothing to do but frown

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Dave Workman reports this afternoon that his Congressional sources have confirmed the the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa will hold the first of a series of hearings into Operation Fast and Furious (aka Project Gunwalker) on Monday, June 13th. The hearing will begin at 1pm in Room 2154 of the Rayburn Office Building.
According to congressional sources, the first hearing will focus on the Justice Department’s lack of cooperation with Issa’s investigation and with the agency’s limited compliance with Issa’s subpoena for several documents. The official title for the hearing is "Obstruction of Justice: Does the Justice Department have to respond to a lawfully issued and valid Congressional Subpoena?"
If you will be in the D.C. area next Monday and have the time to attend this hearing, I'd suggest doing so. I'm sure it will be worth your time.

Mike Vanderboegh in Sipsey Street Irregulars reported earlier today on the subjects of the series of hearings. According to his sources, the hearings will have three phases. From what Mike reports, it looks like the Committee is building a case for a Special Prosecutor phase by phase.
Phase I will be "the presentation of allegations and factual information, evidence, and intended direction of the continuing investigation." This will include documents already presented to Senaqtor Grassley and Congressman Issa by whistleblower ATF agents. Senator Grassley will be among the first witnesses before Issa’s panel. Family members of Project Gunwalker victims are expected to testify, as well as other witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the conspiracy whose knowledge runs from Arizona to DC.

Phase II, according to my sources, "will focus on Mexico issues with witnesses called who have first hand Mexico information."

Phase III will be when it really gets interesting, when all the big names in ATF and DOJ complicit in this scandal who have been uncovered in the previous two phases are called to explain themselves. One source characterized this as "the testimony of compromised participants to include the numerous ATF and DOJ employees with dirt, blood or both on their hands."
This reminds me of the old Chinese curse - "May you live in interesting times." I think we are about to see some very interesting times for certain people in the ATF and DOJ.

UPDATE: Sharyl Attkisson of CBS News has also reported that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has scheduled hearings for next Monday.

UPDATE II: The Hill has an article on the upcoming hearings and notes that that there will be a slew of subpoenas served.
The subpoenas, which Issa said will be issued to key Washington-based government officials with ties to the operation, are slated to serve as a launching pad for a new series of hearings on the matter.
As Scott said in the comments, get the popcorn ready.

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