No evidence of White House cover-up in gun case: lawmaker - Reuters
WASHINGTON |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The congressman heading an investigation into a botched gun-trafficking case said on Sunday he had no evidence the White House was involved in a cover-up about the operation or in providing misleading information to Congress.
However, Republican Representative Darrell Issa said documents the White House was shielding under an executive privilege claim would shed more light on how much high-level officials knew about a misleading February 4, 2011 letter to Congress denying that guns had been allowed to "walk" into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.
Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, have suggested that some sort of a cover-up of information explained why it took until December 2011 for the Justice Department to formally withdraw the letter about the case, which was named "Operation Fast and Furious."
The House is set to vote this week on contempt of Congress charges against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the top U.S. law enforcement official, for withholding access to some of those documents.
Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Issa, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, was asked whether he had evidence of a White House cover-up.
"No, we don't," Issa said.
"I hope they don't get involved," Issa said. "I hope this stays at Justice. And I hope that Justice cooperates, because ultimately, Justice lied to the American people on February 4th and didn't make it right for 10 months."
Congressional investigators say the documents will shed light on who in the Justice Department knew the letter was misleading and why it took so long to withdraw it.
POSSIBLE AGREEMENT TO AVERT CONTEMPT VOTE
Democrats have accused Issa of going on a fishing expedition and note that the Justice Department has already turned over thousands of pages of documents relating to the botched operation, in which guns were allowed to be transported into Mexico.
Two of the weapons were later found at the scene of U.S. border patrol agent Brian Terry's murder in late 2010.
Terry's grieving family has demanded more information about who knew about the "Fast and Furious" operation.
Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, told "Fox News Sunday," that he too wants to satisfy the Terry family's need for information and said the dispute over documents could be worked out.
"It's just a matter of sitting down and talking it over. We can get those documents and get this matter resolved," Cummings said.
Asked if the House would seek to hold Holder in contempt if there was no deal over the documents, Issa said: "Yes, I believe they will, both Republicans and Democrats will vote that."
It could take months to enforce a contempt citation as both sides are likely to turn to the federal courts to resolve the dispute between the White House and Congress.
Issa suggested a deal could be worked out with administration officials, to cancel, or at least delay, next week's vote.
"If we get documents that ... cast some doubt or allow us to understand this, we'll at least delay contempt and continue the process," Issa said in an interview with ABC's "This Week" news show. "We only broke off negotiations when we got a flat refusal to give us information needed for our investigation."
House Republicans advanced the contempt resolution after negotiations with Holder broke down last week. Holder had offered to brief congressional investigators and provide access to some documents to satisfy a congressional subpoena. Issa rejected the offer.
(Editing by David Brunnstrom)
RSS questions Nitish Kumar's 'secular PM' comments - Deccan Herald
In a veiled attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for insisting on a secular prime minister, the RSS has sought to know why there was such aversion for Hindutva in India.
"What is the meaning of saying (that the) prime minister should be secular?" the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's mouthpiece Panchajanya asked in an editorial.
"Our constitution makers did not give any such 'distinguished identity' to the prime minister's post, perhaps because they believed that India has always stood for eternal values, religion and culture, and the basis of our society and national life is the feeling of all-inclusiveness and mutual existence," it said.
The editorial said a prime minister's responsibility as head of the central government was to protect the democratic values and the rights of all without any discrimination.
Comments about the need for a secular prime minister were being made "for vote-bank politics and minority appeasement", it said.
The RSS mouthpiece did not name Nitish Kumar or his party, the Janata Dal-United.
Nitish Kumar has said that the National Democratic Alliance's prime ministerial candidate should be secular and liberal.
With elections nearly two years away, the NDA or the BJP has yet to name a prime ministerial candidate.
RSS mouthpiece supports Narendra Modi - Asian Age
In an apparent attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his 'prime minister should have secular credentials' remark, the RSS has batted for Narendra Modi, saying such comments are being made for vote-bank politics and minority appeasement.
Soon after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments last week that a Hindutva face can become the PM, the Sangh's mouthpiece Panchajanya sought to know why there is an aversion for Hindutva in a country where 85 per cent of the population is Hindu.
"What is the meaning of saying prime minister of the country should be secular? Our Constitution makers did not give any such 'distinguished identity' to the prime minister's post, perhaps because they believed that India has always stood for eternal values, religion and culture, and the basis of our society and national life is the feeling of all-inclusiveness and mutual existence," the editorial of Panchajanya said.
Though the mouthpiece did not name Kumar or his party JD(U) and targeted the Congress, the barbs seen at aiming the NDA ally of BJP.
Kumar had virtually ruled out Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as an NDA prime ministerial candidate last week when he said the PM should have secular credentials and should be acceptable to all allies.
The Panchajanya editorial further states that a prime minister's responsibility as head of the central government is to protect the democratic values and protect the rights of all without any discrimination.
"But in contrast to this, efforts are being made to give the prime minister a 'secular' identity. Harmony between all sects is a distinct feature of Hindu philosophy in India. To treat this Hindutva as communal and to make secularism an instrument for gaining power is nothing more than politics of convenience," the editorial said.
It further states that these politicians who are trying to woo the en bloc Muslim vote are seen cursing Hindutva and declaring all talk of Hindu well-being as communal.
"Leaders who are eager to establish a secular rule by laying atrocities on Hindus should be asked why India should not have a government and a prime minister who is concerned about the majority Hindus.''
''Such an administration and prime minister will definitely be inspired by Hindu life values, traditions and ideals to work with the feeling of unhindered progress of all sects and groups and for their happiness," the editorial said.
It laments that vote-bank politics has divided the country into minority-majority, communal-secular, castes and sects.
It further states that instead of finding ways of bridging this gap, conspiracies are being hatched to deepen these fissures for gaining power.
"Why do these secular forces have such aversion to Hindutva? Only for the sake of getting votes and power?" it said.
Plan B plays Hackney amid rainstorm - BBC News
Plan B took to the stage in a charcoal suit, despite the weather
Rapper Plan B suffered a few spills on the stage at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, as he played in the middle of a rainstorm.
The rapper slipped several times - but persevered with a set that included hits Stay Too Long and Ill Manors.
"God decided to open up the skies," he said about an hour after the show, "but we got through."
"I've been in a bit of a mood for a while, to be honest, but I'm getting over it now."
Jessie J, who played immediately afterwards, said: "I was up there watching Plan B. It's not easy up here on the stage when it's raining."
"I was very aware that I was in heels, I was like, 'just take your time, don't fall over.'"
Plan B, whose real name is Ben Drew, said there was "just enough rain" to stop his band from "jumping around and smashing up the stage as we usually do".
However, he managed to take down his guitarist, after jumping on his back towards the end of the set.
The rain cleared up after Plan B's performance, with blue skies over Hackney by mid-afternoon.
And despite the weather, the musician, who was brought up in east London, said he had enjoyed playing on home turf.
"For so long, this part of the city has been deprived. It's great to see stuff like this happening here, because the people deserve it."
Hackney Weekend, a free two-day event, is part of the London 2012 Festival. It is taking place in Hackney Marshes, in the shadow of the Olympic Stadium.
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