House Republicans are pressing the White House to appoint a special counsel to determine whether Attorney General Eric Holder lied about his knowledge of the Fast and Furious gun operation, reports Fox News.
CBS News has obtained several memos and an e-mail showing that Holder had knowledge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' "Operation Fast and Furious" as early as July 5, 2010, which would directly contradict his testimony to Congress on May 3, where he said, "I probably heard about Fast and Furious for the first time over the last few weeks."
A Justice Department spokeswoman reiterated Holder's stance to the Huffington Post, saying Holder "has consistently said he became aware of the questionable tactics in early 2011 when ATF agents first raised them publicly, and then promptly asked the IG to investigate the matter."
In 2009, ATF's Phoenix office began Fast and Furious, in which agents monitored but did not disrupt the sale of guns from American dealers to suspected "straw purchasers," who obtain guns for criminal organizations. About 2,000 to 2,500 weapons were sold in this way.
Sources:CBS News, Fox News, Huffington Post
Related:
Holder Says He Didn't Know About Fast and Furious
