Darrell Issa's Latest Circus Has Lawmakers Shocked That DOJ Fights Fraud

[hue]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/15/republicans-operation-choke-point_n_5589500.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

WASHINGTON -- On Tuesday, Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee took up Rep. Darrell Issa's crusade against the Department of Justice's efforts to root out petty fraud.

"In essence, this is a government hit list!" declared Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), in what could have been confused for a comment on drones.

"Indefensible and irresponsible," concluded Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.). "If you don't like a given industry, bend your authorities and force that industry out of the financial services space, making it impossible for them to survive."

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), perhaps unaware that Congress is less popular than cockroaches, decided to deride the witnesses before the committee because they work for the government.

"You've come in here and said, 'They've committed fraud!' You're an attorney at DOJ!" Duffy shouted, as if DOJ attorneys were not qualified to identify fraudulent transactions. "We have a bureaucrat in the DOJ who says, 'I think it's fraud, and so I'm going to shut down a legitimate business!'"

The Obama administration has not, in fact, shut down any legitimate businesses. And there is no evidence that it has even tried to shut down one because it doesn't like an entire industry.

All of this House GOP outrage is directed at a Justice Department initiative called Operation Choke Point, which seeks to block fraudulent businesses from using the banking system.

[Hestia]

1. Democrats defending payday lenders - WTFH? Money talks, we lose...