IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 35 

Expressing no confidence in the Attorney General of the United States and 

calling for his immediate resignation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 18, 2013 

Mr. GOSAR (for himself, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. BENISHEK, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, 

Mrs. BLACK, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BROOKS of Alabama, Mr. BROUN

of Georgia, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. CARTER, Mr. COLLINS of 

New York, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina, Mr. 

FARENTHOLD, Mr. FINCHER, Mr. FLORES, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. 

GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. GRAVES of Georgia, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. HUELSKAMP, Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan, Mr. JOHNSON of 

Ohio, Mr. JONES, Mr. KELLY, Mr. LONG, Mrs. LUMMIS, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. MULVANEY, Mr. NUGENT, Mr. NUNNELEE, Mr. OLSON, Mr. 

PALAZZO, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. ROE

of Tennessee, Mr. ROTHFUS, Mr. SALMON, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. STOCKMAN, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. WESTMORELAND, and Mr. YOHO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing no confidence in the Attorney General of the 

United States and calling for his immediate resignation. 

Whereas the United States Attorney General is a key position 

in the Executive Branch; 

Whereas the laws of the United States are enforced and 

upheld by the United States Attorney General; 


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•HRES 35 IH 

Whereas the Judiciary Act of 1789 created the Office of the 

Attorney General and the Attorney General represents 

the United States in legal matters and gives advice and 

opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the United States Government; 

Whereas the people of the United States need to have full 

confidence in the Attorney General of the United States; 

Whereas the people of the United States need assurance that 

the top law enforcement official in the United States will 

uphold the Constitution, and that he is competent, trustworthy, and beyond reproach; 

Whereas the people of the United States further expect that 

when mistakes are made, the Nation’s top law enforcement office will not seek to cover up such mistakes, but 

will cooperate with Congress and the American public in 

disclosing the events and circumstances and transparently addressing the issues; 

Whereas the current United States Attorney General, Eric 

Holder, presided over the Department of Justice as it 

conducted a law enforcement scheme called ‘‘Operation 

Fast and Furious’’ that was ill conceived at the outset 

and mismanaged for its duration; 

Whereas according to information obtained through the 

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, 

Operation Fast and Furious allowed thousands of weapons of various types to be illegally sold and or transferred 

from the United States to violent drug cartels and known 

criminals in Mexico and elsewhere; 

Whereas weapons from Operation Fast and Furious have 

been used to violate United States laws, Mexican laws, 


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•HRES 35 IH 

and international laws, including homicide, kidnapping, 

and trafficking laws; 

Whereas under Attorney General Holder’s watch, this operation demonstrated no proper monitoring of the guns 

being sold or transferred, and failed to interdict the 

weapons; 

Whereas Attorney General Holder further failed to inform or 

cooperate with Mexican authorities even though weapons 

were being sent to Mexico; 

Whereas currently, Mexico is under severe stress due to drug 

cartel wars; 

Whereas in January 2012, the Government of Mexico confirmed that 47,515 people were killed in drug-related incidents between 2006 and 2011; 

Whereas credible sources estimate that at least 300 Mexican 

deaths involved weapons that came from Operation Fast 

and Furious; 

Whereas the carnage resulting from Operation Fast and Furious is not limited to Mexico; 

Whereas the people of the United States will likely also incur 

further violence as a result of this operation; 

Whereas due to Attorney General Holder’s failure to provide 

oversight or control over Operation Fast and Furious, 

drug cartels have used Fast and Furious weapons to 

wage attacks against United States law enforcement as 

well as Mexican police and military outfits; 

Whereas evidence further suggests that such guns have been 

used in the United States, and were found at the crime 

scene surrounding the death of Border Patrol Agent 

Brian Terry, who was killed on December 14, 2010; 


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•HRES 35 IH 

Whereas in response to Congressional inquiries, the Administration, through Attorney General Holder’s office, initially provided false information in a letter to Congress 

dated February 4, 2011, that was subsequently withdrawn; 

Whereas in response to Congressional inquiries, the Administration, through Attorney General Holder’s office, has redacted key information and has been intransigent, obstructionist, and obdurate; 

Whereas in response to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives whistleblowers who came to Congress for redress, the Administration, through Attorney 

General Holder’s office, retaliated against such whistleblowers; 

Whereas the Administration, at the request of Attorney General Holder, claimed executive privilege to block the disclosure of duly subpoenaed documents relating to a Congressional investigation; and 

Whereas Attorney General Holder was found in contempt of 

Congress on June 28, 2012: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that Congress has lost confidence in the At3 torney General of the United States and thereby calls for 

4 his immediate resignation. 

Æ 


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