President Obama’s spokesman dismissed the congressional contempt charges against Attorney General Eric Holder over Operation Fast and Furious as mere “politics” from House Republicans.

“[Holder]takes the allegations that have been raised very seriously and that is why he asked the inspector general to investigate the matter,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters today. “It is also why you see the Department cooperating with congressional investigators, including producing 7,600 pages of documents and including testifying at hours and hours on congressional hearings.”