Issa Threatens Obama Admin With Contempt Proceedings

Congressman Darrell Issa is threatening the Obama administration with contempt hearings if it continues to stonewall his investigation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). In a letter Issa sent ATF Director Ken Melson earlier today, the California Republican blasted the agency for failing to meet the April 13 deadline for his subpoena. Issa, the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, is investigating Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious — two ATF programs that may have cost the lives of two federal agents.

Assistant Attorney General Ronald Welch refused to comply with a subpoena Issa handed down on March 31, citing the Justice Department’s “ongoing criminal investigations.” Issa retorted, “We are not conducting a concurrent investigation with the Department of Justice, but rather an independent investigation of the Department of Justice.”

His letter revealed that Issa had obtained a document proving two AK-47s sold through Project Gunrunner — but never tracked by the ATF — were found near the murder scene of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry last December. “This document demonstrates that ATF knew straw purchasers were acquiring weapons and failed to track those records,” he wrote. “As an apparent result, a U.S. federal agent lost his life.” He added the ATF’s “failure to act” may have similarly cost the life of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent Jaime Zapata, who was murdered in February in Mexico.

Issa concluded his letter to Melson by stating, “If you do not comply with the subpoena, the Committee will be forced to commence contempt proceedings.”

Issa’s letter follows an April 8 letter Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-IA, e-mailed to Melson, upbraiding him for telling ATF agents they “are in no way obliged to respond” to Congress.

How high does the ATF’s malfeasance and nonfeasance go? At least one Congressman is showing the backbone to find out.

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Comments

  1. Thank you congressman for showing some fortitude! That is how our gov’t is supposed to work, checks and balances.

  2. joanneel says:

    Kuddos to Issa ….. don't stop …. these Chicago gangsters think they can break the laws of the land and get away with it. Start proceedings to arrest them, if they don't comply.

    • I agree that they should be arrested and thrown into jail just like any other person. I also think that that all of the arrest should start at the top of each department that the subpoenas were issued, because they are the ones that are tellings (or ordering) the workers not to comply with the subpoenas.

    • My feelings to the letter, joanneel.

    • Angelicsweep says:

      Issa isn’t going to do crap! He has “THREATENED” to do a lot of things and that is all it was…a threat! Emperor obama has made EUNUCHS out of the whole bunch up there! Boehner, Issa…the whole bunch of supposed MEN who were going to take on the obama administration have easily been castrated by obama. The more obama gets away with…starting with the birth issue, the more it emboldens him to keep circumventing the Constitution and OUR RIGHTS. Issa isn’t going to do SQUAT, just like the rest of the jerks up there! Hell, obama even got to Gov Jan Brewer there in Arizona! I have lost ALL hope that there is ANYONE out there to DO THE RIGHT THING and expose obama for what he really is! obama has gotten to the judges, finally to Gov Brewer, he has successfully made eunuchs out of Boehner and his like…Issa is just the next one on his list!

  3. Issa my Man! Yeah! Dude Goes!

  4. dragonfFIRE01 says:

    You go Congressman. we need more people with the guts to stand up to this madman whio thinks he can get away with anything. start proceedings to arrest this man and all his cronies.

  5. celticwaryor says:

    The truth be told, Congressman Issa should be handing down indictments on a multitude of charges against Obummer AND his administration. Starting with BHO's refusal to stop his mess of a healthcare nightmare that two (2) Federal Judges have ruled all, or in part, unconstitutional!!

  6. weRscrewed says:

    Yep just keep going after all this Piddly little stuff that the Obama administration does and sooner or later, after all the delays, Obummer will be in his second Term and untouchable for his Crimes.
    We’re fooling ourselves thinking that anyone in Congress. The Supreme Court, DoJ, FBI, CIA, DOD, BATF, FDA, HOMELAND SECURITY OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT Agency has any intention of breaking up this Gangster Government. It’s all for SHOW and to kill time, offering False Hope to the Citizens of the World.

    • You are absolutely right. These criminals know better than to rock the boat in which they ride.

    • FinaBiscotti says:

      But……do whatever you can – to inform Washington. DC – that you are aware of the criminal activities of this Thugocracy –
      by filing FORMAL complaints – that can be anonymous……send same formal complaint to:
      The US House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, The US House Judiciary Committee – US Senate Committee on The Judiciary –

      and send a copy of your Formal complaint – to your elected member of Congress – to ensure that he is aware of your formal complaint with these entities – and to get off his a$$ and do something about it.

      Notice that the Left – is very quiet – about what Obama is doing in LYBIA – and how he activated military action – without the approval, consent or knowledge of our US Congress – Because IT IS AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. What Obama has done in EGYPT and LYBIA are impeachable offenses!!!!

  7. Issa is my hero ….the man has guts and smarts beyond most in Washington

  8. Edwardkoziol says:

    good for Issa it's time to take this lying piece of crap down .Obuma has gotten away with murder.

  9. Deepizzaguy says:

    Go after him Congressman Issa. If more members in Congress had your courage we would better off than we are at present.

  10. BobVelon says:

    I hope he is not patronizing us like the rest of the bottom feeders who have no nads or backbone… A lot of yapping and pandering and that is all it is…. We're on the bottom rung of the ladder and continue to crap on us every chance they get. I agree with weRscrewed, time to break out the muskets and load them up cuz there is a day of reckoning coming and the sooner the better….Time to lead the parasite down the steps in handcuffs….

  11. Ineedagoodname says:

    Darrell Issa and his committee on government reform need to do this most important thing ASAP: They need to investigate the eligibility of Obama to be president! They need to subpoena all Obama's records that he is hiding, including the original, long-form, hospital-generated BIRTH CERTIFICATE–THE REAL ONE! We need to know where he was born and who his parents–both of them–were. Obama has not proved that he is a "natural born citizen". The U. S. Constitution requires that U. S. Presidents must be natural born citizens. Obama is the very kind of person that our founding fathers must have had in mind when they made "natural born citizen" a requirement of any president. Obama is un-American, disloyal to this country, he is trying to destroy it as it is and turn it into a socialist country. He wants this country to go bankrupt because when it does, his crew can take over an run it as a dictatorship. Our freedoms will be lost forever if this happens. Somebody needs to stop Obama!

    • Lt. Travis, OHMM says:

      Understand that his birthplace is actually irrelevant. What IS relevant is whether he is a "Natural born citizen" as described in the Constitution and in legal precedent. In this regards, there can be NO doubt that he is NOT due to the FACT that the man he CLAIMS to be his father was not a US citizen. He is therefore ineligible to hold the office of POTUS and him and everyone who participated in this fraud should be in jail for life without parole.

    • FinaBiscotti says:

      The MILITARY CODES established under our US Constitution – dictate why a person of DUAL CITIZENSHIP cannot be Commander-in-Chief = ALLEGIANCE TO ANOTHER GOVERNMENT.

      Obama/Soetoro has mulitiple citizenships – and has used multiple SS#s.

      An impeachable offense – "looting" The US Treasury – for his constant WASTEFUL SPENDING – as if the US taxpayer money – is his personal money.

      His refusal to accept the constitutional authority of Congress – establishes his Acornseiuvoterigged presidency as a DICTATORSHIP.

      This is further evidenced by the very fact that he made ILLEGAL use of $29 MILLION of US Taxpayer money – in his personal pursuits – to FINANCE – the creation and ratification of a new Constitution for KENYA.

    • Angelicsweep says:

      You are CORRECT on every point! obama’s agenda, from the very beginning, was to bring DOWN AMERICA. The so called stimulus, the so called “bailouts”…EVERYTHING obama has done was with ONE thing in mind…DESTROYING AMERICA. What better way than to destroy the economy and then our standing in the world??? If our creditors decide to call in our debt, the dollar would plunge and be worth NOTHING! With food and gas going out of sight, what do you think would happen? Just think about it…it isn’t pretty and it is going to happen if SOMETHING isn’t done with that FRAUD we have in the Whitehouse.

  12. BobVelon says:

    I hope this link works… Here is a little more about Obama and his COLB. Really worth reading. http://politicalvelcraft.org/2010/12/29/breaking-

    Just do a copy and paste. I just tried it and it works so go for it

  13. Is it possible Obama is getting campaign contributiond from the Mexican drug "cartels"???
    He does have criminal record. Don't believe me, the go to Google.com and type in: "Does Obama have a criminal record" ? You will get several hits. Click on the one poster by Rick Berry. It is the story of an investigation by an IRS agent. If this becomes widely know I think Obama would have no chance of a second term. Do it and pass the message around.

  14. Issa….just make sure youre not bluffing. Every bluff that fails or just disappears costs the Republican Party more credibillity and enhances Obama's chances to be re-elected.

  15. JeromeBorden says:

    I remember when it was the other party's turn: Watergate and Iran-Contra. The first one gave us the expression "follow the money" and "Deep Throat" leading to the downfall of the Nixon administration. The rest of that was some pretty nasty history including the fall of South Vietnam and the Killing Fields. Next time around, the Democrats gave Ollie North a "Get out of Jail Free card" expecting that he would throw his superiors under the bus. Didn't happen; but they sure tried to use it to bring down the Gipper.
    Now, it's the Republican's turn and we are looking at a serious violation of Federal Law, Cover-ups, coercian of Federal employees, and falsification of public records. This is the kind of stuff that may be more serious than anything involving Watergate. If proven, some people should go to the hoosegow for it. Congressman Issa, please don't let go of this one and, while you're at it, take another look at that New Black Panther case. In both cases, there are public employees willing to testify.

  16. spelunker7 says:

    I hope this man is serious and not just grandstanding. Drag them all before your panel and make them squirm, an old line democrat tactic. If Issa can't find anything in this corrupt can of worms, he needs to go home.

  17. joshtarmy2487 says:

    Sounds like we finally have a congressman with the guts and integrity to stand up to the currupt members of our government. How Congressman Issa for President next year? He's got my vote

  18. I say take George Soros, Roger Trumpka, Andy Stern and Bill Ayres, who ever is in a government position and linked to anyone of these people, they need to be removed NOW. These people are the ones who have influenced the corruption in our government.

    • thank you, most of the people responding are upset and rightfully so.But obama and his admin can’t blow their nose unless they are ordered too. rockefellas soros all the bilderburgers are who needs to be charged with crimes.Those bugs are the ones pulling the strings and have our nations wealth. The plan to break us then act like our saviours.I think their cover is blown but we have to somehow break their grip on our nation. And also realize the 14 trillion is not our debt its a fraud.

  19. Lt. Travis, OHMM says:

    Threatening him with contempt??? He is so openly contemptuous of EVERYONE other than himself and his commie buddies that a threat of this nature is analogous to threatening to tell a 6ft 6" 300# rapist that you will tell your mommy if he doesn't go away. Don't misunderstand, I do applaud Rep Issa for his actions and sincerely appreciate his willingness to take on this tyrant. It is just that a "threat" of contempt is like Sean Connery's describing the insanity of bringing a knife to a gun fight.

  20. FLChristy says:

    They are just stonewalling while they figure out how to hide/change sensitive information. This is not the only issue the Justice Dept. should be called on the carpet about, they should also have to answer for their protection of the New Black Panthers, and other black and liberal groups who have been blatantly threatening people and committing voter fraud.

  21. toninobologny says:

    Holding people accountable, well, is SEXY!

  22. SheepleHearder says:

    The real name for both ILLEGAL ALIEN Prez B-O and congress IS contempt. They have collectively tag teamed the United States Constitution to try and render it useless as The LAW of OUR LAND to promote their New World Order / Marxist / Communist agenda. Ain't gonna happen….

    IMPEACH OBAMA, BIDEN, PELOSI, REID, H. CLINTON and CONGRESS NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. Get-um Darrel, None of them have a pair. That little weasel that ran for the mayor of Chicago is one I wish you could have gotten. Rahm Emmanuel is a big duck in the puddle, Him and Oblunder gave the orders in this mess. They are used to Chicago politics, and giving the finger to anyone who questions them. Please, Take them down. And, watch out for Clyburn.

  24. Charles17121 says:

    What Issa should be doing is looking into Obama's birth certificate issue and if he dose that he wont have to do anything else

  25. I don't want to be a pessimist but how can anyone have hope that Issa isn't just talking out of his a$$ because he's simply angry at being snubbed by the Obama administration's refusal to comply with this subpoena? (Kind of like a dog that growls unhappily and makes a lot of noise but then slinks off into the shadows instead of fighting back). WHEN has the Obama administration EVER complied with a subpoena they didn't like? WHEN have they EVER been forced to obey our Constitution and laws? For cryin' out loud, we can't even get the POS to show his birth certificate! AND HE GETS AWAY WITH IT! There's so much evidence AGAINST Obama's being an American citizen but those 'in charge' keep sweeping it aside while rediculing Americans who simply want to know! The media and govt officials keep telling us it's "not a big deal".

    Well, you know what? It IS a big deal because if he isn't legally able to hold our nation's highest office, EVERY LAW HE HAS EVER SIGNED INTO EFFECT…EVERY DEAL HE HAS EVER MADE WITH A FOREIGN COUNTRY…IS NULL AND VOID!!

  26. JAQUEBAUER says:

    How many transgressions has the Obama regime committed , and continue to commit. You or I would go to jail, but Obama and his henchmen are immune from the laws of the land. How can this be ?

    And why is the American people so calm and ignorant, and not angrily revolting against this illegal fascist regime ?

    In the early years of this country, had the British done as Obama, war would be the result. Are we more “civilized” today ? Nope, just a lot DUMBER !

  27. jparchery02 says:

    the black communist muslim terrorist obama thinks his corrupt govt dicktatership is above OUR LAWS but so many republicans were born without backbones that this is nothing but a show from the toothless tigers we elected in 2010 to bad America their all talk and no action……………………………………………………
    BHO = AMERICAS NUMBER ONE ENEMY MUSLIM TERRORIST

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