Holder slams Issa for "unacceptable" and "shameful" conduct

The attorney general blew up at Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who also chairs the House Oversight Committee

Published May 15, 2013 7:20PM (EDT)

During Attorney General Eric Holder's appearance at the House Judiciary Committee, the proceedings got a little bit heated after Rep. Darrell Issa questioned Holder about the lack of access to emails between the Obama administration and Labor secretary nominee Tom Perez, which Issa claimed could show a violation of the Federal Records Act. "You didn't want us to see the details," Issa said.

Holder interrupted Issa: "No, no, that's what you typically do -- No, I am not going to stop talking now," Holder said, adding: "It is inappropriate and too consistent with the way in which you conduct yourself as a member of Congress. It's unacceptable, and it's shameful."

Holder and Issa, R-Calif., have a pretty contentious relationship, and are currently mired in a court battle over internal Department of Justice documents related to the "Fast and Furious" gun-running case. Issa, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, successfully pushed to hold Holder in contempt of Congress last year for refusing to release the documents.

Watch, via TPM:


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Darrell Issa Department Of Justice Eric Holder House Judiciary Committee Oversight Video