The House of Representatives found Eric H. Holder Jr. in contempt of Congress on Thursday, creating a bitter political break between two branches of government and sending it to the courts to decide whether the attorney general must release internal records dealing with Fast and Furious. 

The votes approved in the Republican-controlled House covered two contempt of Congress citations — one as a criminal matter referring the issue to the U.S. attorney's office in Washington for prosecution, the other authorizing the House to hire a special attorney to bring a civil lawsuit. (MORE)