Attorney General Eric Holder argued that he "should be given some credit" for positive Justice Department (DOJ) operations today, in addition to the negative attention incurred by Operation Fast and Furious.
"I should be held accountable for, certainly, my role -- whatever I did or didn't do in connection to the supervision of Operation Fast and Furious," Holder said during the hearing today. "But, yeah, I'm Attorney General of the United States and I should be held accountable, perhaps even given some credit -- imagine that, given some credit -- for the things that this Department has done under my leadership." Holder cited his role in "revitalizing" the civil rights division as an example of his good leadership, among other things.
His comments came in a tense response to a question from one of the House investigators. "How many more border patrol agents would have had to die as a result of Fast and Furious for you to take responsibility [and resign]?" Rep. Ana Marie Buerkle asked Holder. "You know people focus on a question as much as an answer," Holder replied. "As a Member of Congress, really, is that a way in which you want to be seen, you want to be known?"
Update:Buerkle's time was expired, but she responded to Holder's remarks in a follow-up statement. "The Attorney General's testimony today was disgraceful," she said in the statement. "His continued deflection of accountability and denial of any knowledge of Operation Fast and Furious is shameful."
