House Republicans Demand Holder's Resignation

By Andrea Salazar

Nearly a dozen Republican House members joined together Tuesday to call for Eric Holder to resign from his position as Attorney General, holding him responsible for “Operation Fast and Furious” and the death of a Border Patrol Agent.

Under “Fast and Furious,” the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) allegedly allowed guns across the border and into the hands of Mexican cartels. Two of those guns were found last December where Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered.

“‘Fast and Furious’ endangered the lives of every citizen in this country, especially those of us in the Southwest,” Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said at a news conference. “Further, this program…severely compromised the safety of our law enforcement folks in every Main Street, every town, county and state by arming criminals and foreign nationals.”

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) called for President Obama to join in asking Holder to resign, saying “if the president does not agree with that stance, then perhaps the president of the United States of America is also complicit in this horrible, tragic event.”

“Leaders take responsibility,” West said. “They very rarely take credit. It’s time for Attorney General Holder to take responsibility for the failures that are coming out of the Department of Justice.”

Reps. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas), Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) and Anne Marie Buerkle (R-N.Y.) echoed their colleagues demand.