While undergoing questioning in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Holder and Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) got into a fairly heated exchange when discussing the Fast and Furious scandal that two years ago resulted in Holder being held in contempt of Congress.
It went something like this (and Holder gets bonus points for using the term “buddy” when addressing Gohmert):
I’ve read you what your department promised and it is inadequate, Gohmert said. And I realize that contempt is not a big deal to our Attorney General but it is important that we have proper oversight. You don’t want to go there, buddy, alright? You don’t want to go there, ok? Holder said. I don’t want to go there? responded Gohmert. No. You should not assume that that is not a big deal to me, an agitated Holder shot right back. I think it was inappropriate, I think it was unjust, but never think that that was just a big deal to me. Don’t ever think that. Well I’m just looking for evidence, and normally we’re known by our fruits, and there have been no indications that it was a big deal because your department has still not been forthcoming in producing the documents that were the subject of the contempt, answered Gohmert.
At the end of Gohmert’s time, Holder then tells Gohmert “Good luck with your asparagus.”
That was a reference to a hearing from last year, NPR reports, in which Holder defended himself and his agency from an accusation by Gohmert’s that the Justice Department failed to prevent the deadly bombing at the Boston Marathon.
Flustered Gohmert said, “The attorney general will not cast aspersions on my asparagus.”
h/t: Talking Points Memo
