At the request of Attorney General Holder, President Obama is apparently invoking “Executive Privilege” (Holder hides) to obstruct Congress and prevent investigation of those responsible for the federal gun-running known as “Fast & Furious.” This is fairly remarkable even for incompetents like Holder and Obama since it appears to be an admission that the President himself has some knowledge of and involvement in the cover up that is evident.
Mr. Holder has testified repeatedly that he was unaware of any aspect of Fast & Furious and to date neither he nor anyone else has suggested any involvement of Mr. Obama. But, to successfully assert Executive Privilege, Mr. Obama must have personal involvement in the matter being protected – privilege dos not extend blanket-like over all of the Executive branch. In U.S. v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, the Supreme Court rejected a general Privilege asserted to maintain confidentiality as inconsistent with a need to produce evidence in criminal proceedings.
If Mr. Obama has been involved it is a curiosity. If he has not been, the asserted privilege will fail promptly. Either way, it doesn’t help his reelection effort because there is clearly something someone is desperate to keep us from knowing.
An even larger question is why Mr. Holder remains at his post. But, given that he may do more harm to this administration than anything the feckless Republican leaders can conjure up, keep him working!
Just for fun on a hot day, peruse prominent Democrat bemoan Executive Privilege:
Sane and Insane 