Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama's assertion of executive privilege ahead of a hearing before a House committee, which subsequently recommended his attorney general be cited for contempt of Congress, sets up a fight that has had mixed results in the past. 

At stake are Justice Department documents relating to the flawed Fast and Furious gunrunning sting that House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-California, wants in his hands, and that Attorney General Eric Holder says are confidential. 

The White House move means the Department of Justice can withhold the documents from the committee, which recommended by a 23-17 vote Wednesday that Holder be cited for contempt. 

The full House is expected to consider the motion next week. 

More details: House panel recommends contempt citation 

If it votes to issue a contempt citation, a statement of facts would be delivered to the U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, "whose duty it shall be to bring the matter before the grand jury for its action," according to the law governing contempt citations. 

Executive privilege also has been around since the earliest days of the country, and gives the executive branch the ability to withhold certain internal discussions and documents from scrutiny. 

"It's there to give the executive branch some breathing room for its own deliberations," said Josh Chafetz, professor of law at Cornell Law School. 

Executive privilege "has a long history, but it often plays out very differently," he said. 

The last major confrontation over executive privilege also involved the Justice Department, but the partisan roles were reversed. 
What the AG had done?
Who would have been hearing the case?
When?
Who was the AG?
Was the president supporting him?
What privilege he would exercise?
Did this work before?
Where the statement of facts would be sent?
in which district?
Where the attorney would send the matter then?
Which law stipulates all these?
Is executive privilege a new matter in the country?
From when we can trace it?
What power it gives to the executive branch?
What was the last such confrontation?
Was President Obama's party involved?
What sting is in question this time?
Who wanted the info?
Did the AG agree?
At the end did DOJ have to give the info away?
contempt of Congress,
be cited for contempt of Congress, 
The full House
The full House is expected to consider the motion next week. 

next week.
 consider the motion next week.
Eric Holder
Attorney General Eric Holder 
Yes
President Barack Obama's assertion of executive privilege
executive privilege
assertion of executive privilege
Yes
sets up a fight that has had mixed results in the past. 
to the U.S. Attorney
, a statement of facts would be delivered to the U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia,
District of Columbia,
in the District of Columbia,
to the grand jury
whose duty it shall be to bring the matter before the grand jury for its action,"
the law governing contempt citations.
according to the law governing contempt citations. 
No
Executive privilege also has been around since the earliest days of the country
since the earliest days of the country,
 has been around since the earliest days of the country,
the ability to withhold certain internal discussions and documents from scrutiny.
gives the executive branch the ability to withhold certain internal discussions and documents from scrutiny. 
also involved the Justice Department,
The last major confrontation over executive privilege also involved the Justice Department,
No
 but the partisan roles were reversed.
the flawed Fast and Furious gunrunning sting
the flawed Fast and Furious gunrunning sting 
Darrell Issa
that House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-California, wants in his hands
No
and that Attorney General Eric Holder says are confidential. 
unknown
unknown