This also shouldn't fly under the (political) radar

[Flybrick]

Not exactly a profile in courage:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10 ... latestnews

The U.S. Senate unanimously voted in favor of an amendment Wednesday that guarantees zero funding for programs that include the transfer of firearms to drug cartels unless law enforcement continuously monitors the weapons "at all times."

(my emphasis)

since it closes the barn door after the horse has left it, had children, moved to a retirment home, and passed away.


But it is a pretty stinging political rebuke of the Obama Administration and Holder.

2,000 weapons sold to Mexican drug cartels - $2.5 million.

A dead Border Patrol agent because of the operation - unspeakable.

But the ability to wag fingers - priceless

[Flybrick]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing- ... 2#comments

But Obama defended Holder, saying he stood by his attorney general and he believed Holder was handling the investigation appropriately.

"This is not something we were aware of in the White House and the attorney general it turns out wasn't aware of either. Obviously Eric Holder has launched a full investigation of this, it is not acceptable for us to allow guns to go into Mexico," Obama said.

Bets on when Holder will depart the Obama bus station?



My money is on by Christmas.

[Flybrick]

Ol' Dubya had calls for his head when he wanted to listen to phone calls.


Obama's Attorney General, either through inaction or incompetence, gets now two agents killed and not much publicity.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/26/issa- ... stigation/

The two top Republicans wrote to Holder on Tuesday criticizing what they said was the Department of Justice’s late and lacking response to Grassley’s March 2011 request for details about the murder of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jaime Zapata. “Not only was the response more than six months late, it completely failed to answer the key questions,” Issa and Grassley wrote.

[Flybrick]

Drip, drip, drip...the cover-up is being eroded...

http://pjmedia.com/blog/breaking-pj-med ... ite-house/

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is investigating to what extent the White House was aware of — or involved in — the “Fast and Furious” gunwalking scandal.

The committee recently requested to speak with former White House National Security Staffer Kevin O’Reilly. According to CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson, the Obama administration answered:

O’Reilly is on assignment for the State Department in Iraq and unavailable.

Through a tip, PJ Media learned that Kevin O’Reilly was unexpectedly named director of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau for Iraq (INL-Iraq). Long-time INL-Iraq employee Virginia Ramadan had been expected to get the position — many were quite surprised when she did not.

The previous occupants of the Director, INL-Iraq position — Joe Manso and Francisco Palmieri — were not considered “unreachable” to press or government access. A quick internet search reveals Palmieri, while director, attended a media event on August 23, 2010.

On October 21, PJ Media reporter Patrick Richardson called the number for Office of the Director, INL-Iraq:

1-240-553-0581, ext. 3275

Richardson reached a voicemail message confirming that it was indeed the correct number. He left a message that was not returned.

On Monday Richardson called again, and an assistant answered. Richardson asked to speak with Kevin O’Reilly, and the assistant asked who was calling. Richardson gave his name and stated he was with PJ Media.

The assistant said O’Reilly was currently on a conference call, and asked if Richardson wanted to leave a message. Richardson gave his phone number. His call was not returned.

This morning, Richardson called again. He received a prerecorded message saying “this number is not in service.”

Now, in my opinion, PJMedia is to the right what MSNBC is to the left, but the facts do exist regardless of the messenger.

[Flybrick]

I'll bring chips and dip if someone will bring drinks.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67092.html

Attorney General Eric Holder will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 8 about the controversial Fast and Furious gun-running program, the Department of Justice confirmed Friday.

[Flybrick]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/31/holde ... signation/

The Obama administration appears to be attempting to defend Attorney General Eric Holder as the Justice Department dumped more than 650 pages worth of Operation Fast and Furious documents on congressional investigators late Monday.

Why didn't DOJ provide these documents when asked for them months ago instead of delaying?

“When the allegations related to Operation Fast and Furious became public earlier this year, the leadership of ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona repeatedly assured individuals in the Criminal Division and the leadership of the Department of Justice that those allegations were not true,” Breuer said. “As a result, I did not draw a connection between the unacceptable tactics used by the ATF years earlier in Operation Wide Receiver and the allegations made about Operation Fast and Furious, and therefore did not, at that time, alert others within Department leadership of any similarities between the two. That was a mistake, and I regret not having done so.”

Bruer is Holder's deputy AG.

Another reason it appears as though Holder lied to Congress on May 3 is that President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both discussed Operation Fast and Furious in media interviews about a month before Holder claims he knew of it.

My emphasis.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerst ... ml?showall

Attorney General Eric Holder has agreed to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 8, giving him what could be a friendlier forum to answer questions about the Fast & Furious controversy than a similar House session scheduled for early December.

Holder's Senate appearance was announced Monday by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)

The House Judiciary Committee announced last week that Holder was set to testify to that panel on December 8.

[mrkelley23]

If President Obama had an ounce of political sense (which he has shown he doesn't) he would dump Holder now, clean house at Justice, and admit he made a mistake in hiring Holder. None of this is passing the smell test, and although I don't exactly agree with flybrick that the issue is getting a complete pass in the press, the implication that DoJ has been intimidating reporters who do their job on this story is, if true, almost as reprehensible as the original sin of gunrunning.

I don't believe Holder acted with malice aforethought.

I don't believe Pres. Obama or Sec'y Clinton had specific knowledge of these shenanigans before the badness happened.

I do believe Holder has, and will continue to, lie, dissemble, stonewall, and other lowbrowed things to try to hang on to his job, all the while insisting that he's trying to protect the reputations of the brave and faithful public servants at the Department of Justice.

It's already a legitimate campaign issue (a President is responsible for all of his hires, and Obama's record is spotty at best). If Holder is allowed to stay, this issue will be dragged into the middle of the presidential election cycle. The longer it goes, the worse it will look.

[Flybrick]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/08/durin ... y-hearing/

His new testimony amounts to an admission that he misled Congress during that May 3 hearing. House oversight committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa and Rep. Jason Chaffetz both asked him during that hearing when he had first learned of “Fast and Furious,” and he answered the same way twice.

“I did say a ‘few weeks,’” Holder clarified Tuesday, responding to questions from Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I probably could’ve said ‘a couple of months.’ I didn’t think the term I said, ‘few weeks,’ was inaccurate based on what happened.”

Holder also admitted to Leahy that Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley handed him letters in person in late January, months before Holder previously claimed he knew of the controversial initiative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). The BATFE is a division of the Department of Justice.

[Flybrick]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/09/forme ... le-blower/

Former Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, who resigned in August, admitted late Tuesday that he leaked a document aimed at smearing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent John Dodson, an Operation Fast and Furious whistle-blower.

[Flybrick]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/09/murde ... d-furious/

“Mr. Holder needs to own Operation Fast and Furious,” Terry’s family said in a statement. “In the end, Mr. Holder may chose not to apologize to the Terry family for the role that ATF and DOJ played in the death of Brian Terry, but the Attorney General should accept responsibility immediately. It is without question, the right thing to do.”

The family of the fallen agent added that even if Holder didn’t know guns were allowed to “walk,” or be trafficked into Mexico via straw purchasers, the Attorney General should have known.

The family asks for President Barack Obama to follow through on his promises of transparency and accountability with Operation Fast and Furious. Terry’s family hopes Obama holds Holder accountable for Fast and Furious.

“President Obama has spoken often about the need for transparency in our government,” the family said. “Furthermore, the President, when referring to Operation Fast and Furious, has said, ‘People who screwed up will be held accountable.’”

“Well, we know who screwed up: they were ATF supervisors in the Phoenix Field Office who thought up and initiated this plan, ATF Headquarters executives who allowed it to continue, and officials in the Department of Justice who didn’t put a stop to it when they had the opportunity,” Terry’s family added. “Operation Fast and Furious and the way that DOJ and ATF have handled both the actual investigation and its aftermath are excellent examples of the precise need for transparency and accountability.”

[Flybrick]

So some political after the fact grief and, apparently, Politico carrying the Adminsitration's water.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/10/eric- ... ts-family/

Politico reported Thursday that Attorney General Eric Holder sent a “private letter” to the family of murdered Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, apologizing for his death. But friends of the Terry family have told The Daily Caller that no such letter has made it to the Terry home.

“Eric Holder has told the grieving family of slain U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry that he is ‘sorry for the loss of your son’ and offered to meet with them,” reporter Tim Mak wrote.

The Holder letter may exist, but Politico hasn’t published it. And friends of the Terry family told The Daily Caller on Thursday that they haven’t received it.

Either Holder never sent his “private letter,” or the Justice Department leaked it to Politico before the Terry family received it.

Politico claims the letter was dated and sent on Wednesday — but Domino said no member of the family received such a letter on Wednesday or on Thursday. “If Holder claims he sent it yesterday [Wednesday], he didn’t overnight it,” Domino said in a phone interview.

Mak didn’t respond to TheDC’s request for comment about why Politico didn’t publish the letter he claims to have received.

Politico had no problem with publishing 100+ stories many based on verbal allegations but not this official letter.


edited to add:

Here's the Politico story:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68052.html

A lawyer representing Terry’s parents confirmed on Thursday that the family had received Holder’s letter.

So which is the correct version?

[Flybrick]

Are you KIDDING me?

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/11/posts ... ico-story/

Terry family attorney Lincoln Combs told TheDC on Friday that Holder’s office sent the letter Wednesday afternoon via email to one of Brian’s sisters, who then forwarded the email to other family members.

Via e-mail?!

Doesn't acknowledge the death, denies, indeed, seems to be part of a cover-up, is delaying, and says he doesn't think he has anything to apologize for, then the very next day does an apology letter.

And sends it via e-mail?


Stay classy, AG Holder. Stay classy.

[Flybrick]

Dang, NOBODY knew NUTHIN' over at DOJ.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11 ... d-furious/

In his response Monday to a questionnaire sent from McCain last week, both obtained by Fox News, Ohlson said he knew nothing about the operation while he was at the Justice Department.

"During my tenure as chief of staff and counselor to the attorney general, I took no actions in regard to, had no knowledge of, provided no advice about, and had no involvement in Operation Fast and Furious," he wrote.

Somewhere there is some GS-13 who is running the entire Department on his own.

[Flybrick]

One wonders if 52 Congressional Democrats had publicly signed a letter calling for the Attorney General's resignation in the wake of a failed scheme that killed a Border Patrol agent and a DEA agent if the topic wouldn't be front page/opening story/24/7 like the replacing of district attornies was.

One followed historical precedent and broke no laws.

The other actually killed two American federal agents and hundreds of Mexicans.

[Flybrick]

Speak of the devil:


http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/29/holde ... signation/

Embattled Attorney General Eric Holder today demanded The Daily Caller stop publishing articles about the growing calls in Congress for his resignation because of the failed Operation Fast and Furious gun-walking program.

As Holder’s aide was escorting the attorney general offstage following his remarks Tuesday afternoon at the White House, a Daily Caller reporter introduced himself and shook Holder’s hand. The reporter asked him for a response to the growing chorus of federal legislators demanding his resignation.

Holder stepped towards the exit, then turned around, stepped back toward the reporter, and sternly said, “You guys need to — you need to stop this. It’s not an organic thing that’s just happening. You guys are behind it.”

At least 300 Hispanics in Mexico were killed with Fast and Furious weapons, as was Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.

Currently 52 members of Congress, three presidential candidates and two sitting Governors have called for Holder’s immediate resignation.

[Beebs52]

Speak of the devil:


http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/29/holde ... signation/

Embattled Attorney General Eric Holder today demanded The Daily Caller stop publishing articles about the growing calls in Congress for his resignation because of the failed Operation Fast and Furious gun-walking program.

As Holder’s aide was escorting the attorney general offstage following his remarks Tuesday afternoon at the White House, a Daily Caller reporter introduced himself and shook Holder’s hand. The reporter asked him for a response to the growing chorus of federal legislators demanding his resignation.

Holder stepped towards the exit, then turned around, stepped back toward the reporter, and sternly said, “You guys need to — you need to stop this. It’s not an organic thing that’s just happening. You guys are behind it.”

At least 300 Hispanics in Mexico were killed with Fast and Furious weapons, as was Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.

Currently 52 members of Congress, three presidential candidates and two sitting Governors have called for Holder’s immediate resignation.

Organic. Now that's funny I don't care who you are. I'm sure he could provide "organic" background. Very intellectual that. Organic. I have organic in the backyard courtesy of Dot the Yellow Lab.

[Flybrick]

Can some of y'all legal eagles present theories on this:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2 ... ral-court/

The case of the people accused of killing U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry is completely sealed in federal court, so Americans cannot learn how justice is being conducted in a matter with intense public interest and serious political implications.

“Yes, the case is sealed,” Debra Hartman, spokeswoman from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego, said in an e-mail.

When a case is sealed, the public and the media cannot see evidence, hear testimony or learn about court rulings and arguments.

While there could be legitimate reasons for this action, given the charged political nature of this event, one does have to wonder.

That aside, to include a federal judge in something nefarious not to mention an ever-growing cadre of needed accomplices in the AG's office, makes me think that there is some legitimate, perhaps law enforcement/investigative/sources and methods reasoning for this. Conspiracies fall apart the larger they grow, so there has to be something else at play here.

A little help?

[Flybrick]

But just to make sure the sleaze factor stays foremost:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11 ... g-against/

Here's what has happened to the managers of the operation:

-- Acting ATF Chief Ken Melson, who oversaw the operation, is now an adviser in the Office of Legal Affairs. He remains in ATF's Washington, D.C., headquarters.

-- Acting Deputy Director Billy Hoover, who knew his agency was walking guns and demanded an "exit strategy" just five months into the program, is now the special agent in charge of the D.C. office. He, too, did not have to relocate.

-- Deputy Director for Field Operations William McMahon received detailed briefings about the illegal operation and later admitted he shares "responsibility for mistakes that were made.” Yet, he also stays in D.C., ironically as the No. 2 man at the ATF's Office of Internal Affairs.

-- Special Agent in Charge of Phoenix Bill Newell, the man most responsible for directly overseeing Fast and Furious, was promoted to the Office of Management in Washington.

-- Phoenix Deputy Chief George Gillette was also promoted to Washington as ATF's liaison to the U.S. Marshal's Service.

-- Group Supervisor David Voth managed Fast and Furious on a day-to-day basis and repeatedly stopped field agents from interdicting weapons headed to the border, according to congressional testimony. ATF boosted Voth to chief of the ATF Tobacco Division, where he now supervises more employees in Washington than he ever did in Phoenix.

An ATF spokesman in Washington says the key players did not receive promotions, but transfers.

[Flybrick]

Apparently, if you get caught misleading Congress (lying), you can just "withdraw" the offending document.

A mulligan, if you will.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/201 ... t=1&f=1001

Under fire for losing track of weapons that turned up at crime scenes along the Southwest border, the Justice Department has taken the extraordinary step of formally withdrawing an inaccurate letter about the episode that it sent to Congress earlier this year.

[Bob Juch]

Apparently, if you get caught misleading Congress (lying), you can just "withdraw" the offending document.

A mulligan, if you will.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/201 ... t=1&f=1001

Under fire for losing track of weapons that turned up at crime scenes along the Southwest border, the Justice Department has taken the extraordinary step of formally withdrawing an inaccurate letter about the episode that it sent to Congress earlier this year.

If the NRA had their way, there would have been no need for Fast and Furious; the Mexican gangs could have bought all those guns and more legally.

[TheCalvinator24]

Apparently, if you get caught misleading Congress (lying), you can just "withdraw" the offending document.

A mulligan, if you will.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/201 ... t=1&f=1001

Under fire for losing track of weapons that turned up at crime scenes along the Southwest border, the Justice Department has taken the extraordinary step of formally withdrawing an inaccurate letter about the episode that it sent to Congress earlier this year.

If the NRA had their way, there would have been no need for Fast and Furious; the Mexican gangs could have bought all those guns and more legally.

How is this at all relevant?

Despite the fact that it is factually incorrect about the goals of the NRA, it is also a complete red herring.

[Bob Juch]

Apparently, if you get caught misleading Congress (lying), you can just "withdraw" the offending document.

A mulligan, if you will.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/201 ... t=1&f=1001

If the NRA had their way, there would have been no need for Fast and Furious; the Mexican gangs could have bought all those guns and more legally.

How is this at all relevant?

Despite the fact that it is factually incorrect about the goals of the NRA, it is also a complete red herring.

The NRA's position is that anyone should be able to buy any sort of weapon without restriction.

[TheCalvinator24]

If the NRA had their way, there would have been no need for Fast and Furious; the Mexican gangs could have bought all those guns and more legally.

How is this at all relevant?

Despite the fact that it is factually incorrect about the goals of the NRA, it is also a complete red herring.

The NRA's position is that anyone should be able to buy any sort of weapon without restriction.

Thank you for showing your total ignorance of all things of the right.

Again.

[Estonut]

Thank you for showing your total ignorance of all things.

Again.

Fixed it for ya!

[Flybrick]

The NRA's position is that anyone should be able to buy any sort of weapon without restriction.

In case you haven't been paying attention, Attorny General Holder and the Department of Justice, the subordinate agencies of the FBI, the DEA, and, most especially, the ATFE, used US taxpayer funds to let firearms be transported across international borders by and for vicious drug cartels. Those guns were then used to kill several hundred, at least, Mexicans, and a Border Patrol agent on US soil. A DEA agent was killed in Mexico by another one of those weapons.

The ones supposed to enforce the laws already on the books regarding gun ownership violated those laws and lots of people got killed because of it.

Do try to keep up.