Action Item: Articles of Impeachment Introduced Today Against Eric Holder

[Patricia M. McBride]

Below, you will find a link over to find your representative.  Please write and ask him to sponsor this bill.  We must get Eric Holder out of the DOJ, and hopefully, get someone to replace him who actually won't break the law or make a joke out of the true intent of the constitution.  Thanks.

November 14, 2013 by Tim Brown

Articles of Impeachment Introduced Today Against Eric Holder

I told you last week that Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL) informed attendees at a town hall meeting that House Republicans would be seeking the impeachment of Attorney General Eric Holder regarding Operation Fast and Furious by the end of the year. Well, now articles of impeachment will be introduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) and seven congressmen have signed onto the resolution. These articles go way beyond Fast and Furious.

In conversation with Rep. Olson's office, Freedom Outpost was told that the resolution is set to be introduced Thursday afternoon in the House.

Olson, who was elected in 2009, has been calling for Holder's impeachment since August.

There are four articles in the impeachment resolution.

Article I claims that Holder "engaged in a pattern of conduct incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him by refusing to "turn over lawfully subpoenaed documents requested by Congress" as part of a Congressional investigation into Fast and Furious.

Article II claims that the Attorney General violated his oath of office to enforce the laws of the land by announcing that he would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, even though the law was still on the books.

According to the document, "If the Administration wants to change the law, it should ask Congress to amend it. Only the Supreme Court can deem laws unconstitutional."

Article III contends that Holder also violated his oath of office by refusing "to prosecute individuals involved in the Internal Revenue Service scandal of unauthorized disclosure of tax records belonging to political donors."

Finally, Article IV contends that Holder "provided false testimony to the House Judiciary Committee" regarding the alleged criminal investigation into Fox News reporter James Rosen.

"The fact that there was a search warrant carried out on James Rosen means that the Justice Department either intended to prosecute him, or the Justice Department clearly violated the Privacy Protection Act," according to the resolution.

 

Breitbart got the documents first and posted them online.

Olson Impeach Holder Resolution

Breitbart also received a memo from Olson's office:

"For nearly five years, we have witnessed Mr. Holder repeatedly deceive Congress and degrade the credibility of the Justice Department in the eyes of the American people," the members wrote. "Last year, the House of Representatives took the unprecedented step of holding Mr. Holder in contempt of Congress, making him the first sitting cabinet official ever to hold this distinction." 

"Unfortunately, Mr. Holder has continued to act in a manner unbefitting of a cabinet official; he has failed to perform his constitutional duties and violated the law on a number of occasions," the statement continues. "The House of Representatives should not stand by as he continues to undermine the office of Attorney General."

Olson's supporters so far are:

• Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
• Blake Farenthold (R-TX)
• Phil Roe (R-TN)
• Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)
• Roger Williams (R-TX)
• Ted Yoho (R-FL)
• Randy Weber (R-TX)

I applaud these congressmen for finally bringing this resolution forward. The question now is, when will they do the same thing for Holder's boss?

 

Your congressman needs to hear from you on this resolution. Contact them and demand that they support the impeachment of Eric Holder. Click here to contact your representative.  Link:  http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

 

UPDATE: Melissa Kelly, Communications Director for Rep. Olson, contacted Freedom Outpost following the resolution's introduction in the House with this email:

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today introduced articles of impeachment against Attorney General Eric Holder for high crimes and misdemeanors. The resolution outlines the offenses of lying to Congress, refusing to comply with a subpoena, and failing to fulfill his oath of office as crimes committed by Mr. Holder that rise to the level of impeachment. Olson was joined by Reps. Larry Buschon (R-IN), Blake Farenthold (R-TX), David Roe (R-TN), Randy Weber (R-TX), Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), Roger Williams (R-TX), Ted Yoho (R-FL) Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Bill Flores (R-TX), Mark Amodei (R-NV), Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Sam Johnson (R-TX), Steve Stockman (R-TX), Mike Conaway (R-TX), and Thomas Massie (R-KY) as original cosponsors. The resolution number is H.Res 411.

 

“For nearly five years, Attorney General Holder has systematically deceived Congress and destroyed the credibility of the Justice Department in the eyes of the American people. During his tenure, Mr. Holder refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into Operation Fast and Furious and the resulting death of a Border Patrol agent, refused to prosecute IRS officials who unlawfully disclosed private tax records to third party groups, and misled Congress about his involvement in the investigation of a journalist," Olson said.

 

“Last year, the House voted to hold Mr. Holder in contempt of Congress, making him the first sitting cabinet member to ever hold this dubious distinction. Still, he continued mislead and thwart congressional efforts to bring the truth to the American people. Mr. Holder has failed to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed and continues to act in a manner unbefitting of a cabinet official. I urge my colleagues to join me in beginning this process by cosponsoring this measure now. The American people deserve answers and accountability,” Olson concluded.

 

The articles of impeachment lay out four charges against Mr. Holder:

1. Refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on October 12, 2011, seeking information and documents regarding Operation Fast and Furious. This is a violation of 2 U.S.C. 192.

2. Failure to enforce multiple laws, including the Defense of Marriage Act, the Controlled Substances Act, and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. This is a violation of the oath Mr. Holder swore to "well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office" of Attorney General.

3. Refusal to prosecute the IRS officials involved in the targeting and disclosure of tax records belonging to political donors. This is a violation of the oath Mr. Holder swore to "well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office" of Attorney General.

4. False testimony under oath before Congress on May 15, 2013, about the Justice Department investigation of journalist James Rosen. This is a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1621.

Mr. Holder's behavior clearly falls under "high crimes and misdemeanors," offenses that the US Constitution explicitly defines as grounds for removal of a Senate-confirmed cabinet official through impeachment. The time is now for the House of Representatives to act with the authority vested in us by the Constitution and remove Attorney General Holder from office.

Read more: http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/11/articles-of-impeachment-eric-hold...

Breitbart Article can be found here:  http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/13/Congressman-Pete...

[Patricia M. McBride]

Franklin, thank you.  I found the pamphlet and have downloaded it.  Appreciate the info!

[Patricia M. McBride]

Eric, I also do Facebook and Freedom Works (on Freedom Work I am more preaching to the choir though since they are all of the same mind on there :)

[Eric Elliott]

I will comment more later but I wanted to add how we are making a difference in our fight. I know I am not as involved on this site as I would like to be because of my social media page I work so much on but we are are reaching people. Whenever people say why fight, you can do nothing? Yes we can! And we have, and will continue to do so! Thank you!

[Patricia M. McBride]

Wonderful info Eric and FRanklin.  Actually someone else said we needed to start petitions and collect signatures for a number of things like term limits.  If we could get term limits for our federal representatives on the ballot in all 50 states and it passed, then, I think there would be little choice, but it might also work for something like this.  This is one of the reasons we need for the tea party groups to meld with each other and find a national leader who speaks for us and also helps us organize nation wide for something like petitions.  Most tea parties unfortunately, probably will not be willing to give up their turf so to speak and join in a national effort behind a well known leader like for instance Allen West or someone as well known as Mr. West.  Some of these folks need to be removed and Eric Holder is the tip of the "law breakering" bunch in this administration...............think of the possibilities...............

[Eric Elliott]

I'm sorry for not following up last night, but I found a solid break down of the process once it reaches the point we are now. I copied it for you here...

• The House Judiciary Committee decides whether or not to proceed with impeachment. If they do...

• The Chairman of the Judiciary Committee will propose a Resolution calling for the Judiciary Committee to begin a formal inquiry into the issue of impeachment.

• Based on their inquiry, the Judiciary Committee will send another Resolution to the full House stating that impeachment is warranted and why (the Articles of Impeachment), or that impeachment is not called for.

• The Full House (probably operating under special floor rules set by the House Rules Committee) will debate and vote on each Article of Impeachment.

• Should any one of the Articles of Impeachment be approved by a simple majority vote, the President will be "impeached." However, being impeached is sort of like being indicted of a crime. There still has to be a trial, which is where the US Senate comes in.

In the Senate

• The Articles of Impeachment are received from the House.

• The Senate formulates rules and procedures for holding a trial.

• A trial will be held. The President will be represented by his lawyers. A select group of House members will serve as "prosecutors." The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court(currently John G. Roberts) will preside with all 100 Senators acting as the jury.

• The Senate will meet in private session to debate a verdict.

• The Senate, in open session, will vote on a verdict. A 2/3 vote of the Senate will result in a conviction.

• The Senate will vote to remove the President from office.

• The Senate may also vote (by a simple majority) to prohibit the President from holding any public office in the future.

Here is the link. There is a lot of good information here so you can take a look at you leisure: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/impeachment.htm

[Patricia M. McBride]

Great and thank you Franklin.  I wasn't sure but am glad as it seems to be moving forward.  And now, I guess we should write to our representatives?  Or should we wait to see if the move forward?

[Patricia M. McBride]

I don't think Obama is in the best of shape himself right now, so maybe he won't be reaching out if he thinks it will help him to let Holder go.  The bill moved into the Judiciary Committee today.   Do either of you know where that puts things?

[Eric Elliott]

Once we remove Eric Holder we have to see his boss gone!!!