It’s official, it’s now Panther Gate.

As you know the Obama adminstration’s DOJ has dropped a case it had already won against the New Black Panther group for voter intimidation – a case it had already won. Obviously there is no legal basis for this action, it is very clear that this is an attempt not to inflame Acorn voters – most of whom are not properly registered to vote – in preparation for the 2010, 2012 elections.

Now Rep. Lamar Smith is calling for action.

“Now Rep. Lamar Smith, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, wants to know what is going on. Pajamas Media has obtained a letter sent on May 28 from Rep. Smith to Loretta King, the acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, demanding to know why the case was dropped. He writes:

For example, why did the Civil Rights Division voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit that it had effectively already won, against defendants who were physically threatening voters? Is the Division concerned that this dismissal will encourage the New Black Panther Party, or other groups, to intimidate voters? Why did the Division seek such limited relief against a defendant who was actually carrying and brandishing a weapon at a polling station on Election Day? What role did the change of administration play in the unusual resolution of voluntarily dismissing a case on which the Division had already prevailed?

Smith is also demanding a briefing on the circumstances surrounding the lawsuit and its dismissal and all non-privileged documents relating to the dismissal of the lawsuit. So the question remains: Is the Obama administration serious about impartially and apolitically enforcing federal law? Or is the Justice Department now the handmaiden to the Obama administration’s political agenda? Moreover, the absence of any oversight by the Democratic majority in Congress leaves one wondering whether “politicization” is still such a bad thing in their eyes, so long as the “right” political party is in charge.”

Full documents here.

The event as it unfolded.

I invite all concerned bloggers and media types to immediately file FOIA requests to the DOJ to obtain all relevant memos, documents regarding this case.