Head of ATF Is Likely to Go

[X_Digger]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304453304576392023631543738.html

The Justice Department is expected to oust the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to people familiar with the matter, amid a troubled federal antitrafficking operation that has grown into the agency's biggest scandal in nearly two decades.
...
At a House hearing this week, Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, disclosed internal documents showing that Mr. Melson was closely involved in managing Fast and Furious operation. One email among ATF officials described Mr. Melson's request for an Internet link to hidden cameras the ATF had planted in gun shops cooperating with the operation, Mr. Issa said, citing the documents. That allowed Mr. Melson to watch a live feed of suspected "straw buyers," who purchase firearms on behalf of others, buying AK-47-style rifles, he said.
...
The Fast and Furious operation caused dissent in the ATF Phoenix office, according to three ATF agents who testified at a House hearing Wednesday. The agents said they battled supervisors who insisted on doing surveillance instead of arresting suspected straw buyers.

Despite the Justice Department's internal probe, the hearing helped cement the view among top Justice Department officials that Mr. Melson needed to be moved out before pressure from lawmakers grew more intense, according to the people familiar with the matter.

And more..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/kenneth-melson-atf-chief-resign-fast-furious-guns_n_880770.html

Kenneth Melson, ATF Chief, Pressured To Resign Over Fast And Furious Gun Trafficking Scandal

Kenneth Melson, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, is facing pressure to resign over a controversial gun-trafficking operation that is being blamed for the death of a U.S. border agent.

The ATF program, dubbed Operation Fast and Furious, was designed to monitor the illegal sale and transfer of guns from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels.

At a House Oversight Committee hearing last week, ATF agents told lawmakers that instead of arresting the small-time buyers, they were instructed to stand by and watch to see where the guns went in an effort to build a case against bigger arms dealers.

Doing so, however, meant that U.S. guns wound up in the hands of the Mexican drug cartels. And after Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was murdered in a shootout along the Arizona-Mexico border in December, two weapons found on the scene were linked that the “Fast and Furious” program.

And an interesting piece on CNN-

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/22/ac360-follow-congress-wants-answers-on-atf-operation/


The MX government denies any knowledge of the program (and is corroborated by ATF agents in both countries), so what could realistically be the expectation for achieving the stated goal? Nobody in MX was looking for these guns, nobody was tracking them or the smugglers as they entered the country.

I'm at a loss as to how anyone expected to actually make an indictment.

[Katya Mullethov]

1. They gave Vince Cefalu his termination papers today

What timing !

[Bold Lib]

2. If by "go" you mean go to jail, that's great. If he is just quitting then

when is the trial? When it comes down to what was really going on, we are talking about international arms SMUGGLING by the ATF. People need to be in jail over this if the allegations are true.

[Hoyt]

3. Hope they replace him with someone tough on guns.

[Riftaxe]

4. Or at least with some respect

for the laws they are supposed to enforce.

If he was not a political hack, he would be facing charges.

[redgiant]

5. I'm sure you meant...

...tough on criminals who use guns. There is no need to be tough on my guns, as they behave themselves quite well, thank you.

[oneshooter]

6. Who would you recommend? n/t

[rl6214]

9. You need someone to enforce the laws

not be "tough on guns". That's not what the atf mandate is all about.

ATF Mission
We are ATF.
A unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.
We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public we serve through information sharing, training, research, and use of technology.

ATF Values
We value our people and those we serve.
We value professionalism, integrity, diversity, commitment, innovation, and excellence.
We value partnerships that promote the safety of our communities.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WOW, I don't see anything there about being "tough on guns"

[Atypical Liberal]

11. Hope they replace him with someone tough on CRIMINALS.

[ileus]

7. Hope they replace his with someone tough on criminals, and respectful of the Second.

[appal_jack]

8. +1, k&r, n/t

[Atypical Liberal]

10. Good!

Good to see some accountability. I'd like to see some prison terms, too.

[spin]

12. K&R (n/t)