Last week, under relatively friendly questioning from Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) about the Department of Justice seizure of Associated Press phone records, [Mr. Holder was] asked about the potential to prosecute reporters under the Espionage Act of 1917. ”You’ve got a long way to go to try to prosecute the press for publication of material,” Holder responded.
Later, though, he returned to the topic unbidden, emphasis mine:In regard to potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material. This is not something I’ve ever been involved in, heard of, or would think would be wise policy.As it turns out, Holder not only heard of it, he personally approved it. The warrant in the Rosen case specified that he was considered a potential suspect in the leak of classified material, [which is why] the DoJ didn’t bother to follow the existing Watergate-era statute in coordinating the records request with Fox News.
And note that Holder’s testimony in this case wasn’t produced by some sophisticated perjury trap sprung by a Republican, but as a freely-offered representation to no particular question during the question period of a Democrat.
There is no other way to view this except as a lie.
In fact, Mr. Holder was under oath which makes his lie perjury. Moreover, as Morrissey explains later, Holder may also have lied to a judge to obtain the warrant for seizing Rosen's records.
In an update, Morrissey notes that there's a bipartisan consensus emerging for Holder's resignation. The Huffington Post and Esquire have both had enough. Pressure to resign would seem, though, to be the least of Holder's worries. He may also be looking at disbarment and a few years in prison.
Exit questions: Does anyone seriously think that Holder would have signed off on the Rosen matter without someone high up in the White House knowing about it? How high does this go? How many more scandals must attach themselves to this administration before the media starts talking about it being the most corrupt administration in American history?
