Republicans cite AG for contempt of Congress

Republicans escalated a high-profile clash with US President Barack Obama in the case of a failed gunrunning investigation by voting on Wednesday to hold his attorney general in contempt of Congress.

A majority Republican committee in the House of Representatives voted 23-17 along party lines to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for failing to turn over Justice Department documents.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives' Oversight and Government Reform Committee decided to cite the nation's top law enforcement officer in connection with an operation code-named "Fast and Furious".