A House panel voted Wednesday in favor of holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, a move that inflamed partisan rancor on Capitol Hill and sets up the possibility of legal action against the attorney general himself. 

Holder has not yet been formally held in contempt of Congress. The full House would still need to approve the resolution in order for that to happen --Rep. Issa, R-Calif., suggested the vote can be avoided if the attorney general turns over more emails and memos about the botched anti-gunrunning operation Fast and Furious.

Sources say other House Republican officials are also willing end to a potential constitutional confrontation if the documents are released.

But the 23-17 party-line vote on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee marked a significant turn in lawmakers' 16-month investigation into operation Fast and Furious. With