Pelosi: Holder Contempt Vote a 'Plan' by GOP to Suppress Voter Rights

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday the vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt is "a plan" by Republicans not to investigate Operation Fast and Furious, but to stave off the Justice Department's efforts to stop voter suppression.

"Contempt of Congress? Contempt of Congress?" Pelosi said during her regular press briefing. "To frivolously use that really important vehicle to undermine the person who's assigned to stop the voter suppression in our country? I'm telling you this is connected, it is no accident, it is a decision and it is as clear as can be. It's not only to monopolize his time, it's to undermine his name."

The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday voted 23 to 17 in favor of holding Holder in contempt for refusing to turn over documents related to its investigation into the flawed gun-tracking operation. A full House of Representatives vote is expected next week.

"They're going after Eric Holder because he is supporting measures to overturn these voter suppression initiatives in the states," Pelosi said. "This is no accident, it is no coincidence. It is a plan on the part of Republicans."

According to Politico, a spokesman for House Oversight Chair Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) called Pelosi's charge "offensive and wrong."

“This investigation began a year and a half ago after a U.S. Border Patrol Agent was murdered and guns from Operation Fast and Furious were found at the crime scene," spokesman Frederick Hill said in a statement. "For Minority Leader Pelosi to dismiss this tragedy and say the investigation is really about voter suppression is offensive and wrong.”