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WASHINGTON -- In a rare move, a House Committee Wednesday voted to hold U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress.

With a vote of 23 to 17, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform advanced a resolution Wednesday to hold Holder in contempt of Congress, for withholding sensitive documents surrounding the so-called Operation Fast and Furious scandal.

Throughout the five-hour hearing, lawmakers clearly chose sides along party lines, with Republicans evoking the name of border patrol agent Brian Terry who was killed by guns tied to the secret gun-running program.

"The lack of transparency with respect to a dead border patrol agent is sickening. And this morning’s threat of asserting executive privilege to maintain the veil of secrecy is even more sickening," said Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-New York.

Republicans were outraged with the Obama administration's decision to step in and assert executive privilege, which blocks Congress from having access to the sought after Fast and Furious documents.

This, after committee leaders failed to reach an agreement with Holder Tuesday night.

"We made what I thought was an extraordinary offer," said Holder

As Republicans accused the attorney general and president of a cover-up, Democrats stood firmly in support of Holder and the administration, calling the attack an election-year witch hunt.

"The AG is being attacked for protecting documents that he is prohibited by law from producing," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York.

"I think we do have to respect the separation of powers here, " said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-House Oversight Committee ranking member. "This whole idea, everybody's saying 'Oh what's he hiding?' Well I don't think he's hiding a damn thing."

Now it's up to the full House to decide whether to hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress.