General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A little help understanding Fast and Furious controversy. [View all]JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)The program started under Bush, and a boarder agent got killed after Obama took office. Holder, now aware of the program shut it down.
Issa is trying to force the administration to turn over documents that have nothing to do with the actual program, but have to do with the DOJs internal investigation and debates about it afterward. Issa is trying to expand the scope of the investigation.
Early in the congressional investigation, the DOJ turned over a document that was in error. When the DOJ realized the document was in error, they went back to congress and told them it was inaccurate, and fixed the error. Issa is using that error to demand that around 80k additional documents be turned over ... basically so he can try to find some other error, so he can demand more documents and again widen his investigation.
Think back to Clinton, whitewater, congressional investigations of Clinton's behavior when he was Governor. The House GOP would start with one investigation, and then try to expand the scope of the investigation. If they found any loose thread, they tried to pull it.
That's what Issa is doing.