ATF Project Gunrunner

Here is the Oversight Committee's report - though apparently the Committee has completely split along party lines on this. For a real treat, read the Democratic report linked above first, then read this one.

Some of the highlights in a quick skim so far:

1. Lanny Breuer and Kenneth Melson discussed a "new approach" to ATF prosecutions in Arizona in December 2009. Lanny Breuer said it was a "great idea" and sent an attorney from DOJ's Criminal Gang unit (Joe Cooley)
to work the case, which turned out to be Fast & Furious. Cooley worked the case through March 2010 and Breuer had multiple meetings with Arizona USAO during this time.

2. Mark Chait (Asst. Director Field Operations) received a detailed briefing of Fast and Furious on Jan. 5, 2010 - and they discussed weapons seizures in Mexico in detail because Chait had just come from a meeting with Breuer on that subject.

3. Joe Cooley gave a detailed briefing at ATF headquarters on March 5, 2010. ATF leadership was irked that they were cut out of the loop since Cooley was reporting directly to the Criminal Division. Two weeks later, Cooley was pulled of Fast & Furious and documents indicate that DOJ was very pleased with the way the Arizona USAO was handling the case at this time. (Should be interesting to hear them explain that now that they are trying to throw AZ USAO under the bus).

Big report; and lots of information; but it looks like Breuer is going to have to start throwing deputies under the bus if he wants to escape. I don't see any way they aren't going to link it to Breuer though.
 
OK, the Oversight Committee is beating on Holder unmercifully because it has been 13 months since they sent the first letter and he told them an investigation is underway and he still can't answer the question of who authorized the gunwalking.

Holder responds by saying it will take time "to build a case" to "arrest and prosecute." So essentially, Holder just promised Congress he was going to seek criminal charges for some of his sword-swallowers. Holder is also promising to prosecute those who linked confidential wiretap information (i.e. whistleblowers).

Issa says that Holder will not prosecute any whistleblower. Holder responds that he will prosecute anyone who releases sealed wiretap information and that even the Oversight Committee may not possess that information.
 
During Paul Gosar's questioning, Holder likened the penalties for straw purchasing to a "traffic ticket." On paper, it carries a ten year prison sentence. If that's not being enforced, Gosar asked, how would further restrictions be effective?

Speaking to Rep. Connelly, he's now claiming that the Assault Weapons Ban had a "positive" effect on trans-border violence. Connelly is requesting that Mukasey be summoned to testify on Wide Receiver.
 
Rep. Meehan gets a bite out of Holder's hide and then points out that Fast and Furious was an OCTDEF operation, which requires approval from the Organized Crime Dept. of DOJ. He then asks Holder who approved it. Holder says "We are still trying to find that out, IG investigation" (paraphrased).

After that there is an argument that illuminates the earlier conversation regarding sealed wiretaps - the Committee wants to know whether the affidavits for the wiretap requests indicated the type of tactics being used in Fast and Furious. If they did, then numerous DOJ officials would be implicated by that. Holder says "As you know, applications do not go into tactics." and Meehan says "I don't know that, I haven't seen the applications."

Holder reiterates no tactics in application and then says that they will see if they normally allow this type of request. :rolleyes:
 
Great infographic from Issa:
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Davis panders to Holder. Holder says look at all the documents we provided. Issa points out these documents were only provided after he was threatened with criminal charges and subpoena. Holder says that despite that the documents were released voluntarily by DOJ in the spirit of good will and that it wasn't because of the subopena.

Rep. Gowdy tears into Holder, pointing out all the discussions within Main Justice that indicate knowledge of gunwalking in Fast & Furious. Gowdy screws up and confuses the WR emails with Fast & Furious. 5 minute break while they sort it out.

OK, Gowdy getting with it now.... he is asking about Grindler's big map of guns leaving Arizona to Meixco with a handwritten notation of "Fast and Furious" and asking how Main Justice didn't manage to make the connection with 1500 guns in Mexico and gunwalking. Holder says "no knowledge of tactics." Gowdy asks who drafted the February 4th letter and how they couldn't know about gunwalking?

Let me summarize the testimony of every Dem representative: Bush did it. DOJ and ATF are glorious. It is clear the AG knew nothing and should have known nothing. Mr. Holder, what anti-gun restrictions could we enact from your wish list in order to make sure this doesn't happen again?
 
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As much as he's using it for traction in his backpedaling, Holder is telling Rep. Ross that he was unaware of Wide Receiver until he started preparing documents for these hearings. He claims to be completely unaware to any practice involving gunwalking (despite at least three prior operations) until February of 2011.

He's telling Rep. Speier that the minority report was a good summation, and that he's looking into implementing their proposals.

Rep. Farenthold: "Knowing what you know, do you think you're qualified to lead the Department of Justice?"

Holder: "If you're going to ask me to resign (...) you've asked the wrong question."
 
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O man, Issa just spanked Cummings. Issa was entering into evidence the email from Breuer supporting gunwalking. Cummings objected that Issa improperly characterized the memo as gunwalking since Breuer supported Mexican police interdicting the weapons. Issa points out that he is using the same definition of gunwalking used by the minority in their discussion of Wide Receiver, goes on to describe in great detail the difference between Wide Receiver and Fast and Furious, and then looks to Cummings who mumbles into his mike, stares at the paper in front of him for five minutes and then mumbles "Uh we disagree on the definition of gunwalking I think."

Rep. Gunta asks Holder the F&F equivalent of "has he stopped beating his wife yet?" Holder responds with a monologue on how good he is. Entertaining; but not especially productive.

Rep. Clay clearly displays his character, much to his shame.

Rep. Cummings wants to point out that all the ATF agents were reassigned and that 4 U.S. Attorneys in Phoenix have resigned or "stepped down" as a refutation of the assertion that noone has been held accountable.

Rep. Kelly grilling Holder on his pledges of transparency and how it is Holder never has any knowledge of what is going on.

Kucinich pulls out an elaborate org chart of DOJ to show why the AG may not have known. No idea what he said since he didn't speak into the mike. And apparently Tom Hanks is the star of the movie "Groundhog Day" (about the 20th reference to that movie from the minority). "We must be very careful about people's reputations." Your reputation remains unchanged Dennis. Congrats.

Rep. Labrador points out that Holder's testimony in Fast and Furious is similar to his testimony in Marc Rich and other cases. Cummings objects that this is a Fast and Furious hearing and why is all this other stuff coming up. Issa referees.
 
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Rep. Labrador points out that Holder's testimony in Fast and Furious is similar to his testimony in Marc Rich and other cases.
Click to expand...
Labrador made a really good point in that Holder continues to show up for Congressional hearings unprepared, and that he doesn't seem to know what goes on in his department. Even assuming that Holder didn't have an active hand in this, the fact that he was oblivious to it is a hallmark of utter incompetence.
 
Thank you for the ongoing updates on today's testimony. At the risk of interjecting some noise into your strong on-topic signal...
Issa points out that he is using the same definition of gunwalking used by the minority in their discussion of Wide Receiver, goes on to describe in great detail the difference between Wide Receiver and Fast and Furious . . .
Click to expand...
I hope this point gets driven home (and acknowledged by the media). I keep hearing in news reports how F&F was a "botched" operation. From the objective evidence available, it appears to me that it went exactly as planned -- except that they got exposed and a BP agent got killed.
 
Well, we didn't get any answers to any questions that hadn't been answered in the last 5 hearings - though we did get a lot of "I don't know" "I wasn't aware of that" and "We're still investigating" relating to new questions provoked by the latest document dump. I think Tom and I hit the highlights of the hearing pretty well.

The minority was clearly pushing more gun control and apparently if you listened to the CSPAN feed (which fept the mikes active longer), they discussed plans to promote more gun control with Holder after the hearing (I didn't listen to that feed. I am just reporting what several other guys posted in other gun forums).
 
Same old shuck and jive from the top law enforcement officer in the land, doing the trite and tired delay, deny, obfuscate dance. We'll see a lot more of this through November.
 
This thread is here to discuss the issues surrounding Fast & Furious, the culpability of certain organizations and individuals, the means being taken to stop it, and the possible ramifications.

It is not here to discuss immigration enforcement issues or the validity of internet rumors. Half a page of posts has been deleted because of irrelevant thread veer, and from members who should know better.
 
What will be the next step in the Issa Committee investigation and when will we know something further in this case? It seems as though, after Holders last bob and weave session, we are going to go into a calm period for awhile. What are other people hearing as to what, where, and when, will happen next?
 
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