hill correspondent kelly o'donnell who was there to see all of it today. kelly, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. there were emotions and allegations of political motives flying today. house republicans say they have been waiting for eight months to get documents from the attorney general and only today the white house stepped in. a key committee took an important step toward sending a message to the department of justice. a rare and serious reprimand. >> 23 ayes, 17 nos. >> the ayes have it. >> reporter: eric holder could become the first attorney general ever hold in contempt of congress. >> the attorney general has refused to cooperate. >> reporter: five months before the election, a power struggle between the obama administration and congress. >> it shouldn't have come to this. nobody likes doing this. >> it shouldn't be a political witch hunt against the attorney general of our country and our president in an election year. >> today the white house asserted...