June 30, 201214 yr Grassley and Issa are concerned about retaliation on Fast and Furious whistleblowers. Friday letter to the DOJ’s Inspector General Michael Horowitz
June 30, 201214 yr From the archives. Who says F&F was about new 2nd Amendment restrictions.....CBS News.... Documents: ATF used "Fast and Furious" to make the case for gun regulations - CBS News Investigates - CBS News Documents obtained by CBS News show that the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) discussed using their covert operation "Fast and Furious" to argue for controversial new rules about gun sales. "It's like ATF created or added to the problem so they could be the solution to it and pat themselves on the back," says one law enforcement source familiar with the facts. "It's a circular way of thinking." The article is a good non-spin view from the period in 2011. Before this was politicized. But if this was just an ATF way to get an 'atta-boy' why did Secretary of State Ms. Clinton describe the operation in fairly good detail to Andre Mitchell in MARCH of 2009? 4:00 mark of this interview. Ms. Clinton describes F&F. Long before her or Holder or the WH were supposed to be 'involved'. She even references operations 'put on the back shelf' by the previous administration - an obvious reference to Operation Wide Receiver.
June 30, 201214 yr Do you think it's possible they're trying to hide something? Being that I'm generally cynical of almost everything? Yes, it's indeed possible.
June 30, 201214 yr From the archives. Who says F&F was about new 2nd Amendment restrictions.....CBS News.... I'm confused. Am I now supposed to like mainstream media?
June 30, 201214 yr I'm confused. Am I now supposed to like mainstream media? It was very hard for me to reference a CBS link! But I read through it and it was good non-slanted piece. Has the raw facts as known and documented at the time. My gosh - actual journalism in action! Sub link from above (4th page): ATF "Gunwalking" scandal timeline Pictures - CBS News Feb. 23, 2011: CBS News airs its first report on the alleged gunwalking during Fast and Furious, quoting at least 11 ATF agents and senior managers who did not wish to be named. They say they repeatedly warned superiors that the gunwalking plan was dangerous and a federal agent could end up getting shot with one of the walked weapons. March 8, 2011 CBS ran a report on WR. Basically the short video report says it was same thing and even the same operation extend. Now we know that is not true at all. So maybe at this point CBS is now backing off and deflecting as this goes higher. See video here: ATF "Gunrunner" program may be years old - CBS News Video More key timelines from the CBS slideshow timeline above: March 27, 2011: President Obama tells Univision, a Spanish language network, that neither he nor Attorney General Eric Holder knew of or approved Fast and Furious. May 3, 2011: At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on an unrelated topic, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asks Attorney General Holder when he first heard of Fast and Furious. Holder answers: "I'm not sure of the exact date, but I probably heard about Fast and Furious for the first time over the last few weeks." That answer is later called into question based on memos directed to Holder nearly a year earlier. Aug. 29-30, 2011: ATF Director Kenneth Melson is reassigned and the U.S. Attorney for Arizona who oversaw Fast and Furious, Dennis Burke resigns. What about Melson's July 4th, 2011 testomony to Congress? No mention in timeline. In fact go Google "Melson July 4th 2011 Congress" - hardly any mainstream hits at all. So here is the head of the ATF testifying in a special session - on July 4th! - and it gets no MSM coverage. Odd. So let fill that gap since Melson was then 're-assigned' a month and a half later. ATF Director Melson’s secret Fourth of July fireworks and the post-testimony fallout « Hot Air “We have very real indications from several sources that some of the gun trafficking ‘higher-ups’ that the ATF sought to identify were already known to other agencies and may even have been paid as informants.” Remember the story that the goal was identify 'higher ups'. This says they already knew who the 'higher ups' were. What is also interesting about the July 4th testimony is that Melson showed up with his own attorney. Documented by Forbes. 'Fast And Furious' Just Might Be President Obama's Watergate - Forbes But just days later, on July 4, 2011, Acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson surprised some by speaking to congressional investigators from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Melson met with investigators with his personal attorney present — not Justice Department attorneys. ... Melson was pointing to a cover up at the U.S. Justice Department while refusing to be a scapegoat. ABC did cover the testimony: ATF Chief Testifies Before Congress in Secret Over Controversial Gun Program - ABC News According to sources close to the investigation, ATF Acting Direction Ken Melson had previously wanted to testify before the oversight committees but Justice Department officials sought to delay his testimony. In the July 5,2011 letter (read more HERE) lawmakers who were once very critical of Melson and his tenure at ATF, have since changed their tune and are now urging the Attorney General to ensure Melson is being treated fairly – even suggesting that action against Melson by the Justice Deparmtment could have the effect of “intimidating others who might want to provide additional information to the committees.” So back to August 29, 2011. After Congress asked Holder to treat Melson fairly after his holiday testimony with his own personal attorney present what happens? Melson is sent basically to Syberia. Gunwalker scandal: ATF director out of top job - CBS News Investigates - CBS News He will transfer to the Justice Department and assume the position of senior advisor on forensic science, Office of Legal Programs. So the head of the ATF is transferred into DOJ reporting and made a 'senior advisor' on 'forensic science' and its not related to the fact he testiffied to Congress a month and a half earlier with his own personal attorney present? I bet this career move was not in Melson's career plan at ATF! So let stop here for now.
June 30, 201214 yr Good job reporting BGC Thanks. Its too hot for outside activity so lets keep this going.... Kevin O'Reilly Anyone know who this is? Lets see. Even from good ol' MSNBC.... Judicial Watch Sues ATF for Fast and Furious Records Detailing Communications Between ATF and Obama White House Official - Business - Press Releases - msnbc.com As reported by CBS News, Fast and Furious documents released by the Obama White House in September 2011 "show extensive communications between then-ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix office Bill Newell -- who led Fast and Furious -- and then-White House National Security Staffer Kevin O'Reilly." The records included a flow-chart showing the ultimate destinations of the weapons released by the Obama administration. Newell had previously admitted during a congressional hearing that he had indeed shared information regarding the scandal with O'Reilly, but did not provide significant details regarding their discussions. CBS: New Fast and Furious docs released by White House - CBS News Investigates - CBS News the White House turned over new documents in the Congressional investigation into the ATF "Fast and Furious" gunwalking scandal. The documents show extensive communications between then-ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix office Bill Newell - who led Fast and Furious - and then-White House National Security Staffer Kevin O'Reilly. Emails indicate the two also spoke on the phone. Such detailed, direct communications between a local ATF manager in Phoenix and a White House national security staffer has raised interest among Congressional investigators looking into Fast and Furious. Newell has said he and O'Reilly are long time friends. Note to Clyde - I had not noticed that the WH had submitted documents as you have previously posted. Has Congress asked to talk to Kevin O'Reilly? Yes. Lawmakers push to interview ex-White House aide in 'Fast and Furious' | Fox News Issa and Grassley wrote in the letter that O'Reilly's personal lawyer has told them that he would permit his client to speak to the lawmakers as long as the White House does not object, and they are willing to do the interview by phone to accommodate O'Reilly's work. "To date, the White House has not complied with multiple congressional requests to interview O'Reilly," the lawmakers wrote to White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler. "Our staffers have had extensive discussions with lawyers in your office, who have represented that the White House does not perceive any need for us to interview O'Reilly and consequently will not make arrangements for him to speak to us." Here is some recent information on interviewing O'Reilly - again from CBS (I am in shock!): W.H.: Ex-staffer can't be questioned on Fast and Furious - CBS News Investigates - CBS News The White House said a former National Security staffer who communicated with ATF's Special Agent in charge of "Fast and Furious" cannot be interviewed by Congressional investigators. Is there a legitiment reason to interview him.... Go to this link and read the actual emails and you decide.... http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/Investigates/oreilly_emails_062212.pdf?tag=contentMain;contentBody The first email asks: "Would ATF be willing to put you or others in front of US media that gets pickup in Mexico (CNN en Espanol, perhaps) to tell this story?" So where is O'Reilly now? He is in Iraq working for the State Department (i.e. Hillary Clinton). A key witness... on assignment... in a war zone.... Do not forget to watch the Hillary video above. Skip to the 4 minute mark. It will provide you a very good description of F&F....from Hillary...in March 2009...
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