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| Republicans pressure attorney general Eric Holder on Congress testimony | Republicans pressure attorney general Eric Holder on Congress testimony |
| (4 months later) | |
| The US attorney general, Eric Holder, is facing mounting pressure over his role in the government's targeting of journalists who receive leaks, with a panel looking into claims that he lied under oath. | The US attorney general, Eric Holder, is facing mounting pressure over his role in the government's targeting of journalists who receive leaks, with a panel looking into claims that he lied under oath. |
| Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Bob Goodlatte, the chairman of the House of Representatives judiciary committee, confirmed that it was investigating apparent "conflicts" in comments that Holder made to Congress. | Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Bob Goodlatte, the chairman of the House of Representatives judiciary committee, confirmed that it was investigating apparent "conflicts" in comments that Holder made to Congress. |
| The judiciary committee's investigation refers to an apparent denial made by the attorney general regarding whether he had signed off on a decision to pursue a criminal investigation against a journalist. | The judiciary committee's investigation refers to an apparent denial made by the attorney general regarding whether he had signed off on a decision to pursue a criminal investigation against a journalist. |
| On 15 May, Holder said he had never taken part in any such discussions and that a criminal probe would not be a "wise policy". It has since emerged that Holder did indeed play a role in the Justice Department's decision to seek a warrant for records belonging to a Fox News reporter, James Rosen. An affidavit signed off by the attorney general named Rosen, the recipient of a leaked CIA dossier, as a potential criminal. It led to his tracking by government officials. | On 15 May, Holder said he had never taken part in any such discussions and that a criminal probe would not be a "wise policy". It has since emerged that Holder did indeed play a role in the Justice Department's decision to seek a warrant for records belonging to a Fox News reporter, James Rosen. An affidavit signed off by the attorney general named Rosen, the recipient of a leaked CIA dossier, as a potential criminal. It led to his tracking by government officials. |
| That incident, and the seizure of phone and email records from the Associated Press, has led to claims that the US administration is riding roughshod over privacy rights and the freedom of the press. | That incident, and the seizure of phone and email records from the Associated Press, has led to claims that the US administration is riding roughshod over privacy rights and the freedom of the press. |
| Last week, Goodlatte and a Republican colleague, James Sensenbrenner, wrote to Holder regarding their concerns that media reports of the Rosen case "appear to be at odds with your sworn testimony". As such, they called for a "full and accurate account of your involvement in and approval of these search warrants". | Last week, Goodlatte and a Republican colleague, James Sensenbrenner, wrote to Holder regarding their concerns that media reports of the Rosen case "appear to be at odds with your sworn testimony". As such, they called for a "full and accurate account of your involvement in and approval of these search warrants". |
| On Sunday, Goodlatte went a step further by seeming to confirm that an investigation into potential mistruths in Holder's testimony to Congress was under way. Asked if his panel was investigating Holder for possible perjury, Goodlatte told Fox News Sunday: "Yes, it is fair to say we are investigating the conflict in his remarks. Those remarks were made under oath." | On Sunday, Goodlatte went a step further by seeming to confirm that an investigation into potential mistruths in Holder's testimony to Congress was under way. Asked if his panel was investigating Holder for possible perjury, Goodlatte told Fox News Sunday: "Yes, it is fair to say we are investigating the conflict in his remarks. Those remarks were made under oath." |
| He added: "But we also think it's very important that the attorney general be afforded the opportunity to respond. So we will wait to pass judgment on that until after we receive his response." | He added: "But we also think it's very important that the attorney general be afforded the opportunity to respond. So we will wait to pass judgment on that until after we receive his response." |
| Holder has received backing from the Justice Department, which has said the testimony was factual. The White House has said his evidence was truthful. But political opponents to the Obama administration have suggested that Holder still faces important questions over his comments to Congress and his role in the leak investigations. | Holder has received backing from the Justice Department, which has said the testimony was factual. The White House has said his evidence was truthful. But political opponents to the Obama administration have suggested that Holder still faces important questions over his comments to Congress and his role in the leak investigations. |
| Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, the Republican representative Marsha Blackburn said the attorney general had "definitely lost the trust of the American people". | Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, the Republican representative Marsha Blackburn said the attorney general had "definitely lost the trust of the American people". |
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