By NAN Staff writer
News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Fri. Sept. 26, 2014: Only moments after the U.S.’ first black Attorney General Eric Holder, the son of a Caribbean immigrant father, announced his decision to resign as attorney general of the United States, several Republican lawmakers took to Twitter to mock him.
The Tweets came ‘fast and furious,’ after the Justice Department yesterday, September 25th, announced Holder’s resignation, hours after a federal judge denied the Department of Justice’s request to further delay the release of documents related to ‘Operation Fast and Furious.’
“Good riddance Eric Holder. Your disregard for the Constitution of the United States will not be missed,” tweeted Congressman Jeff Duncan of South Carolina’s Third Congressional District while Darrell Issa of California’s 49th congressional district added: “Holder also has the dubious distinction of, in a vote supported by 17 Dem Members, being the first AG held in criminal contempt of the House.
“Holder’s tenure will be remembered for refusal to uphold law & Constitution, disrespect for role of Congress & contempt for the institution,” tweeted Congressman Tom Rooney of Florida’s 17th District while Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas’ 1st District was much harsher, adding: “AG #Holder has obfuscated the truth & been the most partisan, partial, prejudiced & self-pitying AG in my lifetime.”
Controversial senator Ted Cruz was surprisingly more contained, tweeting: “Sadly, AG Holder has proven to be the most partisan AG in our history. its good news he’s announced his resignation.”
But Louisiana Senator David Vitter was frank: “Anyone sad to see Eric Holder stepping down as AG? Not me. I can’t think of any AG in history who has attacked Louisiana more than Holder” as was Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland who tweeted: “Eric Holder’s resignation is long overdue.”
Senator Lindsey Graham was in the minority in his party as he offered best wishes to Holder. Graham’s tweet was gracious and couched in diplomacy as he noted: “I appreciate AG Holder’s service to our country even though we had strong disagreements at times. I wish him well in future endeavors.”
Surprisingly, GOP House Speaker, John Boehner, stayed away from the conversation.
U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates denied the request from the Department of Justice to delay the release of a list of Operation Fast and Furious documents being protected under President Obama’s assertion of executive privilege.
The list, better known as a Vaughn index, was requested through a June 2012 FOIA filing by government watchdog Judicial Watch. When DOJ didn’t respond to the FOIA request in the time required by law, Judicial Watch sued in September 2012, seeking all documents DOJ and the White House are withholding from Congress under executive privilege claims. President Obama made the assertion on June 20, 2012 just moments before Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt. In July 2014, after two years of battling for information, Judge Bates ordered the Department of Justice to release the Vaughn Index by October 1. DOJ responded by asking for a month long delay in releasing the list with a deadline of November 3, just one day before the 2014-midterm elections. That request has been denied. A short delay was granted and DOJ must produce the Vaughn index by October 22.
Holder will continue to serve until a replacement is named and approved.
His father, Eric Himpton Holder, Sr., was born in Saint Joseph, Barbados and arrived in the United States at the age of 11. His mother, Miriam, was born in New Jersey but her parents were immigrants from Saint Philip, Barbados.
