DOJ Responds to Perjury Investigation from Congress: Holder Didn't Lie

Katie Pavlich | June 04, 2013 8:22 AM

Late Monday, the Department of Justice issued an official response to the House Judiciary Committee about the investigation into Attorney General Eric Holder for perjury. Not surprisingly, the Department is offering a full defense of Holder and says he in no way lied to Congress.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Peter Kadzik sent members of the House Judiciary Committee a letter stating:

At no time during the pendency of this matter - before or after seeking the search warrant - have prosecutors sought approval to bring criminal charges against the reporter. The Attorney General's testimony before the disclosure of classified information was accurate and consistent with these facts.

As a reminder, on May 15, 2013 Holder said, "In regard to potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material. This is not something I’ve ever been involved in, heard of, or would think would be wise policy."

Just days later, we found out that Holder personally signed off on the secret monitoring of Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent James Rosen, who was named as a criminal co-conspirator in the affidavit Holder signed.

The Judiciary Committee is not impressed.

“Today’s response from the Justice Department’s Office of Legislative Affairs raises more questions than it answers. By having a subordinate send this response rather than Attorney General Holder himself, this response begs the question of whether Holder has something to hide. Discrepancies in Attorney General Holder’s congressional testimony made on the record need to be corrected on the record to Congress by Attorney General Holder himself," Chairman Goodlatte said in a statement. “Attorney General Holder still has yet to respond to our letter. He can’t outsource the responsibility for his actions to lower level staff—the buck stops with him. The American people and Congress deserve answers and accountability from Attorney General Holder. The House Judiciary Committee anxiously awaits his response to our May 29 letter by this Wednesday’s deadline.”

Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner is less than impressed Holder didn't respond to the Committee himself.

“This response is insulting and further proof that Attorney General Holder refuses to hold himself accountable. Not only did the letter come from a low-level staffer at DOJ, not Holder himself, it fails to answer the questions raised by his misleading testimony. Congress and the American people deserve an explanation from the Attorney General. It is increasingly obvious that Eric Holder has something to hide. I still expect a response from the Attorney General before the deadline of Wednesday, June 5," Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner said in a statement.