LIVE VIDEO — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testifies at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill.
By Carrie Dann, Political Reporter, NBC News
As the White House faces a trio of burgeoning controversies that have put the administration and agencies throughout Washington on the defensive, Attorney General General Eric Holder was set to tout his department’s record before a congressional committee Wednesday.
In opening remarks he was set to deliver before the House Judiciary Committee, Holder says the Justice Department “has taken critical steps to prevent and combat violent crime, to confront national security threats, to ensure the civil rights of everyone in this country, and to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images
Attorney General Eric Holder is sworn in during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill May 15, 2013 in Washington, DC.
The routine Justice Department oversight hearing became a hot ticket after two scandals – the DOJ probe of Associated Press phone records and the revelations that the IRS targeted conservative groups for additional scrutiny -- erupted since the end of last week. The Obama administration also continues to be dogged by lingering questions over its administration’s response to the September 11, 2012 attack on a diplomatic outpost in Benghazi.
In his opening statement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., called the IRS matter "outrageous," saying "Congress and the American people expect answers and accountability."
Holder’s opening statement contained no mention of those controversies.
Holder announced Tuesday that he has directed a Justice Department investigation of the IRS matter and that he recused himself from the AP leak probe because he had previously been questioned by the FBI about the intelligence breach.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Holder said he wanted to “make sure that this investigation was seen as one that was independent and to avoid even the possibility of an appearance of a conflict I made the determination to recuse myself."
This story was originally published on Wed May 15, 2013 1:07 PM EDT
By Carrie Dann, Political Reporter, NBC News
As the White House faces a trio of burgeoning controversies that have put the administration and agencies throughout Washington on the defensive, Attorney General General Eric Holder was set to tout his department’s record before a congressional committee Wednesday.
In opening remarks he was set to deliver before the House Judiciary Committee, Holder says the Justice Department “has taken critical steps to prevent and combat violent crime, to confront national security threats, to ensure the civil rights of everyone in this country, and to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Attorney General Eric Holder is sworn in during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill May 15, 2013 in Washington, DC.
The routine Justice Department oversight hearing became a hot ticket after two scandals – the DOJ probe of Associated Press phone records and the revelations that the IRS targeted conservative groups for additional scrutiny -- erupted since the end of last week. The Obama administration also continues to be dogged by lingering questions over its administration’s response to the September 11, 2012 attack on a diplomatic outpost in Benghazi.
In his opening statement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., called the IRS matter "outrageous," saying "Congress and the American people expect answers and accountability."
Holder’s opening statement contained no mention of those controversies.
Holder announced Tuesday that he has directed a Justice Department investigation of the IRS matter and that he recused himself from the AP leak probe because he had previously been questioned by the FBI about the intelligence breach.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Holder said he wanted to “make sure that this investigation was seen as one that was independent and to avoid even the possibility of an appearance of a conflict I made the determination to recuse myself."
This story was originally published on Wed May 15, 2013 1:07 PM EDT