SAY WHAT? -- He's been under fire before. We're talking about Attorney General Eric Holder. There was Holder's refusal to investigate alleged voter intimidation by the New Black Panthers. That caused a subordinate to resign in protest.
Then there was Holder insisting he did not know about his own department's gun running operation, "Fast and Furious," which left hundreds of Mexicans and at least one American dead.
But the latest Holder scandals have targeted reporters, one reason that reporters are finally paying attention.
The Justice Department secretly seized phone logs of more than 100 reporters for the Associated Press, arguing that the world's biggest news gathering operation was undermining national security. This despite the fact that AP usually provides the White House quite favorable coverage -- and indeed was not criticizing it in the story at hand, involving a foiled terror plot. Seems the White House just wanted to break the story first.
More predictably, the Justice Department also seized records of FOX reporter James Rosen, and even alleged he was part of a criminal conspiracy. Holder again denied any involvement. He even swore to that effect before Congress.
But this time there was a problem.
Holder had signed the Rosen search warrants.
So now we're hearing -- from both sides of of the aisle -- talk of investigating Holder for perjury and calls for him to resign. He is one of President Obama's closest confidants, and many Washington observers say he has often fallen on his sword to protect the president, so pushing him out would be painful.
Then there was Holder insisting he did not know about his own department's gun running operation, "Fast and Furious," which left hundreds of Mexicans and at least one American dead.
But the latest Holder scandals have targeted reporters, one reason that reporters are finally paying attention.
The Justice Department secretly seized phone logs of more than 100 reporters for the Associated Press, arguing that the world's biggest news gathering operation was undermining national security. This despite the fact that AP usually provides the White House quite favorable coverage -- and indeed was not criticizing it in the story at hand, involving a foiled terror plot. Seems the White House just wanted to break the story first.
More predictably, the Justice Department also seized records of FOX reporter James Rosen, and even alleged he was part of a criminal conspiracy. Holder again denied any involvement. He even swore to that effect before Congress.
But this time there was a problem.
Holder had signed the Rosen search warrants.
So now we're hearing -- from both sides of of the aisle -- talk of investigating Holder for perjury and calls for him to resign. He is one of President Obama's closest confidants, and many Washington observers say he has often fallen on his sword to protect the president, so pushing him out would be painful.