to our nation s highest court. what a moment. but today, 45 years later, republicans are in the midst of a vicious attack campaign against the nation s first african-american attorney general. it s part of an ugly effort that began even before holder took office. and hasn t let up since. republican lawmakers are now threatening to hold him in contempt of congress. they re also calling on him to resign. it s an escalation of their attempt to attack him over a program called fast and furious. a so-called gun walking operation that was dreamed up by the bush administration and ended by holder. he made that very point yesterday. if you want to talk about fast and furious, i m the attorney general that put an end to the misguided tactics that were used in fast and furious. an attorney general who i suppose you would hold in higher regard was briefed on these kind of tactics in operation wide receiver and did nothing to stop them. nothing. there were three gunwalking operations
there were three gunwalking operations during the bush administration. but republicans going after the attorney general have resorted to attacks that sink to a whole new low of dishonesty and disrespect. he is, after all, the chief law enforcement officer of the united states. how many more border patrol agents would have had to die as part of operation fast and furious for you to take responsibility? you know, i mean, really. does that is that the way in which you want to be seen, you want to be known? that kind of question i think is frankly and again, i think that s beneath a member of congress. republicans have launched every attack they can no matter how petty. you re well known in this town for not reading memos. what does that say about your leadership and management? given the decision to almost engage in character assassination, i m going to respond to at least some of that. they ve accused the attorney of lying. you either lied or you were grossl