Holder was beloved by many liberals for his focus on civil rights protections and support for same-sex marriage, while he became a lightning rod for criticism from Republicans during his time in the Obama administration. In 2012, he was held in contempt by the GOP-led House of Representatives over a probe into the actions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) during an undercover sting operation known as "Fast and Furious."