Border Patrol Group Representing 17,000 Agents Calls on Eric Holder to Resign Over Fast and Furious

The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) is joining a growing chorus of groups and lawmakers calling for the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder for his part in the failed gunrunning operation known as "Fast and Furious," the Washington Times reports.

The NBPC represents all 17,000 of the Border Patrol's "nonsupervisory agents."

Council President George E. McCubbin III said the attorney general's handling of the case was "a slap in the face to all Border Patrol agents who serve this country." He also said Holder  attorney has failed to provide any leadership within his department.

"It is time for Attorney General Eric Holder to show the least shred of responsibility and leadership and resign his post," McCubbin told the Washington Times. "Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry deserves nothing less."

Further, a Border Patrol agent is prohibited to cross into Mexico without approval from various U.S. and Mexican government agencies being informed, McCubbin explained. This is why he argues there is no way that Fast and Furious was carried out without knowledge and direct approval from the Justice Department and the Obama administration.

From the Washington Times report:

Two semi-automatic AK-47 assault weapons found at the scene of the Dec. 15, 2010, killing of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry were traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to “straw buyers” who bought the weapons as part of the Fast and Furious investigation.

The agent died during a gunfight with heavily-armed Mexican bandits along the U.S.-Mexico border south of Tucson, Ariz.

More than 2,000 weapons purchased during the ATF-led Fast and Furious operation were “walked” to drug smugglers in Mexico. More than 600 of them still are missing.

Mr. McCubbin said Border Patrol agents are indoctrinated from day one of their training that “integrity is their most important trait and that without it, they have little use to the agency.” He said agents who lie or show a lack of candor are disciplined quickly.

“The standard that applies to these agents should at a minimum be applied to those who lead them,” Mr. McCubbin said. “If Eric Holder were a Border Patrol agent and not the attorney general, he would have long ago been found unsuitable for government employment and terminated.”

Mr. McCubbin said the “political shenanigans” surrounding Fast and Furious and the “passing the blame” must stop.

Just last week Holder responded to Sen. John Cornyn's (R-Texas) call to resign during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. "I don't have any intention of resigning," Holder replied.

He also said the President Obama has "absolute confidence" in him as attorney general.

“The heroism that Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry demonstrated on that cold night in the desert of Arizona was in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Border Patrol and will never be forgotten by those who patrol this nation’s borders,” McCubbin said.

“We cannot allow our agents to be sacrificed for no gain and not hold accountable those who approved the ill-conceived Operation Fast and Furious," he added.

Holder sent Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a letter last week that mentioned holding a meeting today between himself and lawmakers.

(Related: Eric Holder Buckles Under Threat of Contempt Charges, Agrees to Provide More 'Fast and Furious Documents)

Holder is still trying to prevent contempt charges from being filed against him and has agreed to provide additional information to congressional investigators. The oversight committee is scheduled to consider taking a vote on the contempt charges on Wednesday.