In debate this morning in advance of a vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, Republicans welcomed “judgment day” while Democrats lamented the “politicization” of everything.
Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) called Holder a “liar” and said dishonesty on the part of administration officials should “never be tolerated.” Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) welcomed today as a “day of reckoning” and called the Attorney General “obstinate.”
Democrats said they were disgusted.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-S.C.) called the contempt citation a “cheap political trick,” and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said the Republicans were “only looking to score political points at the expense of the integrity of the House and this institution.”
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) called the proceedings “despicable” and said he recognizes that Republicans have elections to win.
“But at what cost?” he asked. “Does everything need to be in your face?”
The vote on the rule governing debate passed 254-173. Separate civil and criminal contempt votes will occur this afternoon.
“Today is judgment day,” Poe said. ”And that’s just the way it is.”
Attorney General Holder was in Orlando, Florida, speaking to the League of United Latin American Citizens annual convention. He will then fly to New Orleans, where he will give a statement on the contempt vote from the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
