Chaffetz renews Holder 'Fast and Furious' subpoena :: 01/08/2015

New House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz took his first action for the new congress by renewing the subpoena to compel Attorney General Eric Holder to produce documents related to Operation Fast and Furious “gunwalking,” the congressman announced Tuesday on Twitter. The tweet included a photo of the congressman signing the renewal.

The reason for the action is that subpoenas from committees expire at the end of every Congress, an advisory email from Chaffetz press secretary MJ Henshaw explained. Unresolved and outstanding subpoenas must be reissued by committee chairs at the beginning of each new Congress.

“The subpoena is identical to the Committee’s October 12, 2011, and January 3, 2013 subpoenas,” Henshaw explained. “[It] is currently the subject of litigation between the Committee and the Justice Department.”

The timing of the email is such that it precedes any announcement at this writing on the Committee website. The renewal shows the committee is resolved to continue to pursue all legal avenues to compel production of documents. Of equal certainty is that Holder and the Department of Justice will continue to resist further releases beyond a November “document dump,” relying on claims of executive privilege and the slowness of court processes.

Unknown at this time is whether potential Holder replacement Loretta Lynch will continue with that resistance if her nomination is confirmed. Also unknown is how much of a focus the Senate Judiciary Committee will place on that in her hearings, particularly now that the Republican membership advantage has been increased, and Chuck Grassley, who made Fast and Furious a priority as Ranking Member, is the new Chairman.