Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and other federal and state officials announce a $26 billion foreclosure settlement regarding mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuse, February 9, 2012. The deal was made with five of the largest home lenders and is the biggest to date aimed at addressing the housing meltdown. It settles potential state charges about allegations of improper foreclosures based on robosigning, seizures made without proper paperwork.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House has approved a precedent-setting resolution to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in criminal contempt of Congress. It was the first time a sitting Cabinet member has been held in contempt.

A number of Democrats boycotted Thursday's vote.

Republicans pushed through the resolution because Holder did not turn over documents related to a botched gun-tracking operation known as Fast and Furious.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wants Justice Department records from a 10-month period after February 2011. That month, the department initially denied guns were allowed to be purchased in Arizona and be taken to Mexico. In early December that year, the department acknowledged the assertion was wrong.

A separate vote will be held to hold the attorney general in civil contempt.