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The clock is ticking for the Justice Department. As officials continue to withhold documents relevant to the administration’s fatally flawed gunrunning scheme, House lawmakers grow more anxious to get to the bottom of what happened. Unless the material is produced before the deadline, Republicans shouldn’t waver in issuing contempt-of-Congress citations.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members investigating Fast and Furious have given Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. until Thursday to turn over subpoenaed material and avoid an unpleasant battle between the executive and legislative branches.