Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar has filed a resolution in the House of Representatives pushing for vote of “no confidence” in Attorney General Eric Holder.
The resolution, introduced Monday afternoon, is a formal way to exhibit congressional disdain for Holder as the investigation into Operation Fast and Furious proceeds. It would also be an initial step toward some House Republicans’ plan to formally remove him from office if he won’t resign.
The resolution, officially numbered H. Res. 490, states that “it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress has lost confidence in the Attorney General of the United States.”
In a statement, Gosar denounced Holder’s continued refusal to comply with lawfully issued subpoenas and other official congressional requests for information.
“It is imperative that the citizens of our nation have confidence in our Attorney General,” Gosar said in the statement. “After months of evasive answers, silence and outright lies it is time that Congress speak up on behalf of the many people who have or will fall victims to the firearms in the flawed gunrunning operation Fast & Furious.”
There are currently 55 House members and two members of the Senate demanding Holder’s resignation, along with four GOP presidential candidates and two sitting governors. Many of those in Congress who have called for Holder’s ouster have also signed on to Gosar’s resolution.
Some other co-signers, however, have not asked for Holder’s resignation. According to Gosar’s office, they include North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers, Arizona Rep. David Schweikert, Illinois Rep. Bobby Schilling and Ohio Rep. Bill Johnson, all Republicans.
Schweikert’s spokesperson told The Daily Caller in an email that the congressman “wants to continue to let the committees and … outside investigation[s] work their way.” (RELATED: Full coverage of Eric Holder)
Spokespersons for Ellmers, Schilling and Johnson did not immediately return TheDC’s requests for comment.
Gosar’s no-confidence resolution is similar to a symbolic effort California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff spearheaded against Bush administration Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in 2007. Gonzales eventually resigned in a flurry of political pressure from Congress and the media.
Already, far more members have demanded Holder’s resignation than did Gonzales’, yet most media outlets have underplayed the issue. Holder did react harshly when TheDC confronted him a White House event on Nov. 29, alleging that TheDC is somehow “behind” the calls for his resignation and demanding that TheDC stop reporting on them.
“You guys need to — you need to stop this,” Holder said after losing control when TheDC asked him about the calls for his resignation. “It’s not an organic thing that’s just happening. You guys are behind it.”
A floor vote on Rep. Gosar’s resolution is not likely any time soon, unless House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Speaker John Boehner or another member of the GOP House leadership gets behind it. Spokespersons for Boehner and Cantor have not returned requests for comment on whether they plan to support the resolution.
Another way to remove Holder from office is through impeachment proceedings, which Wisconsin Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner first suggested during a Dec. 8 House Judiciary Committee hearing.
South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy said that if Holder doesn’t resign “the easy way,” then the House should move forward with official impeachment proceedings. During a Fox News interview Friday, Gowdy called for Holder’s resignation “the easy way or the long way.”