If the White House 1) wasn't involved in F&F, and 2) wasn't aware of F&F until Holder told them about it, how can they exert Executive Privilege? I thought EP was only to "prevent" the chilling of conversation between the White House and those it asks for advice?

David or anyone else:

Any sense on how long it will take for this to play out, assume maximal obstruction from the Administration? I.e. past the November election?

I suspect they're not thinking past that ... which if you remember the Watergate timing, sets us up for a nice mess if Obama is reelected.

It is inconceivable that this could be litigated before the election...

Not a lawyer, but my gut says there is two competing schedules here, one get in to act out just before the election the other is to push it past the election probably late January/February. But then I'm a cynical old SOB

"As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons," Holder told reporters.

Holder said that putting the ban back in place would not only be a positive move by the United States, it would help cut down on the flow of guns going across the border into Mexico, which is struggling with heavy violence among drug cartels along the border." LOL

We don't know for sure yet whether Obama knew about Fast and Furious back before it went public, but we do know now that he is helping the cover-up and protecting the guilty. It is a major offense for Obama not to release the documents.

Somebody that studied constitutional law help me out here--

My understanding is that the House has power and authority in and of itself to put Holder in jail until he complies or until the end of the current session. I believe this came about through Supreme Court rulings rather than being written in the Constitution.

In addition, Congress has criminalized contempt, so that a separate charge would be filed and prosecuted through the judicial/law enforcement system.

Since Holder's organization would not successfully prosecute Holder, doesn't it make more sense for the House to act directly, while charges are being prepared and filed, probably for action during the Romney administration??