Republican lawmakers are considering whether to haul Attorney General Eric Holder back before a House committee over questionable testimony he provided on the Justice Department’s surveillance of reporters, threatening to subpoena the nation’s top law enforcement officer if necessary.
Leaders of the House Judiciary Committee have given Holder until Wednesday to answer questions about his May 15 testimony. At the time, he said under oath he knew nothing of the “potential prosecution” of the press. Days later, it emerged that Holder was involved in his department’s successful effort to obtain Fox News reporter James Rosen’s personal emails — the DOJ sought access to the documents by arguing Rosen was a likely criminal “co-conspirator” in a leak case.
“I can’t think of a more chilling effect on the news media,” Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., told Fox News.
Sensenbrenner and Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., want Holder to clarify his testimony, claiming it appears to conflict with his department’s actions.
Sensenbrenner said his committee is prepared to compel Holder to explain if he doesn’t make the Wednesday deadline.
“I think we ought to subpoena the attorney general to come back and answer those questions specifically,” he told Fox News, when asked what happens if Holder misses the deadline.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., agreed.
He told Fox News on Monday that Holder “absolutely” should return to the committee to explain his May 15 comments.
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