In a majority vote, some Democrats joined with the House of Representatives' Republican majority.

Mr Holder is the first sitting attorney general to be held in contempt.

The White House refused to hand over files outlining how the justice department discovered problems with Fast and Furious operation.

Fast and Furious saw US agents lose track of hundreds of illegal guns allowed into Mexico to track dealers.

A US border agent was killed with a weapon linked to the operation in December 2010.

The justice department showed a House committee a group of documents on Tuesday, including emails from Mr Holder and Deputy Attorney General James Cole, in an attempt to stave off the vote, the Associated Press reports.

Several members of Congress, including many in the Congressional Black Caucus and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, walked out of the chamber, labelling the vote a stunt.

"We don't want to play a part in this political game," Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks said.