I spent decades listening to witnesses trying to evade questions and to avoid disclosing anything helpful to the questioner. Listening to Eric Holder's testimony today, it was clear that he was in full avoidance mode.
Let me give an example. Holder surely knew that he would be questioned about the Justice Department's secret grab of the phone records of the AP and about 20 of its reporters. I saw about five news stories yesterday that announced that the hearing and Holder's testimony would focus heavily on that subject. So we know that Holder was prepared for the subject. Nevertheless, when Holder was asked who authorized the process to take the AP/reporters's phone records, Holder said it was not him and he was not sure. Really! The Attorney General claimed that he did not know for sure. Apparently, he is also not sure if night follows day. After a lot of back and forth, Holder finally said that he had received a note and now could state that the process was approved by the Assistant Attorney General.
We all had read news reports that previously identified the person who authorized the seizure of the phone records. Holder was just being asked to confirm that information. He chose to obstruct the investigation instead of cooperating. He wasted something like half an hour just to confirm the name of the Assistant AG who authorized the process.
Look, I did not expect that Holder would do anything other than to try to defend his department and himself from criticism. Nevertheless, it was foolish for Holder to try to stonewall like this. Everyone in the room knew he was doing it. Every member of the press knew he was doing it. But he did it nevertheless. Holder ended up looking sneaky and shifty. He did not help president Obama on this.
Let's hope that when the questions about the IRS begin, the treasury secretary does not tell Congress that he never heard of the IRS. Then again, it would not surprise me if that happened.
Let me give an example. Holder surely knew that he would be questioned about the Justice Department's secret grab of the phone records of the AP and about 20 of its reporters. I saw about five news stories yesterday that announced that the hearing and Holder's testimony would focus heavily on that subject. So we know that Holder was prepared for the subject. Nevertheless, when Holder was asked who authorized the process to take the AP/reporters's phone records, Holder said it was not him and he was not sure. Really! The Attorney General claimed that he did not know for sure. Apparently, he is also not sure if night follows day. After a lot of back and forth, Holder finally said that he had received a note and now could state that the process was approved by the Assistant Attorney General.
We all had read news reports that previously identified the person who authorized the seizure of the phone records. Holder was just being asked to confirm that information. He chose to obstruct the investigation instead of cooperating. He wasted something like half an hour just to confirm the name of the Assistant AG who authorized the process.
Look, I did not expect that Holder would do anything other than to try to defend his department and himself from criticism. Nevertheless, it was foolish for Holder to try to stonewall like this. Everyone in the room knew he was doing it. Every member of the press knew he was doing it. But he did it nevertheless. Holder ended up looking sneaky and shifty. He did not help president Obama on this.
Let's hope that when the questions about the IRS begin, the treasury secretary does not tell Congress that he never heard of the IRS. Then again, it would not surprise me if that happened.
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