Holder, Issa clash during House committee hearing

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder and a leading House Republican clashed Wednesday over the Justice Department’s refusal to turn over the private emails of Thomas Perez, a top department official nominated to be labor secretary.

California Rep. Darrell Issa repeatedly pressed Holder about why the Justice Department won’t release the personal emails of Perez, who heads the department’s civil rights division. Issa speculated that Justice had something to hide as Republicans probe whether Perez illegally used personal email to conduct official business.

In a testy exchange, Holder told Issa that his line of questioning was “inappropriate” and “too consistent with the way in which you conduct yourself as a member of Congress.”

“It’s unacceptable and it’s shameful,” a visibly irritated Holder said at a House Judiciary Committee hearing.

Holder said he would look into the request for the emails and “we’ll try to be as responsive as we can.”

Associated Press