Holder emails show frustration: ‘Kiss my a–“

Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder’s frustration amid the 2011 fallout from the Fast and Furious scandal can be seen in newly released emails from the time. 

At one point, Holder writes that “some people can kiss my a–” when referring to criticism aimed at the department’s handling of the resignation of Arizona’s then-U.S. attorney Dennis Burke, who had taken responsibility for missteps. 

{mosads}Burke’s resignation announcement came at nearly the exact moment that the Justice Department announced that it was reassigning the Director of U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

According to reports, an aide told Holder that 25 U.S. state attorneys had relayed their criticism. 

“Why wouldn’t we get the benefit of the doubt. Assume we’re doing things for the right reasons and in the right way,” Holder replied, noting that he was “counting to 10” — a reference to trying to calm down. 

Later on, Holder sent another reply, saying “some people can kiss my a–.”

The now-defunct Fast and Furious program began in 2009 and was run by the ATF. 

Agents allowed low-level weapons purchasers to cross the Mexican border in an attempt to expose trafficking routes used by Mexican cartels. But the agency ultimately lost track of some weapons, including two found at the scene of the killing of a border patrol agent in 2010.

The new emails were released as a result of a subpoena from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The House voted in 2012 to place holder in contempt over the battle to release more documents.