Rep. Issa wants answers from ATF on "gunwalking"

By: Sharyl Attkisson
Topics: News

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is calling on the ATF to answer questions and produce documents about "gunwalking" operations where guns were allegedly allowed into Mexico in order to track drug cartels.

A CBS News investigation revealed that thousands of guns have found their way into criminal hands in Mexico as part of Operation Fast and Furious and Project Gunrunner.

In a letter sent to Kenneth Melson, acting director of the ATF, Issa urges him to "act decisively to assuage the public's deep suspicions" about the program.

"Recent media reports have raised grave questions about your department's handling of operations involving gun trafficking in Mexico," the letter begins. "In the aftermath of the tragic killing of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jamie Zapata, it is imperative that you act decisively to assuage the public's deep suspicions that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has a policy permitting - and even encouraging - the movement of guns into Mexico by straw purchasers."

The letter also accuses the agency of not cooperating with existing congressional inquiries on the program led by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).

You can read the full letter here.

Justice Memo to Self: No Gunwalking Allowed
Holder: Gunwalking is wrong
Agent: I was ordered to let U.S. guns into Mexico

All of Sharyl Attkisson's gunwalking reports, blogs, and videos can be found in one place at: cbsnews.com/sharylattkisson

Sharyl Attkisson
Sharyl Attkisson is a CBS News investigative correspondent based in Washington. All of her stories, videos and blogs are available here.
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by JosephZernik July 7, 2011 9:07 PM EDT: ATF 'Gun Walking' Kenneth Melson - Key Figure in Corruption of the Justice System
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News regarding the imminent departure of Deputy Director Kenneth Melson in the wake of the ATF 'gun walking' scandal may be premature. Convoluted relationships between President Obama, FBI, and US Department of Justice are part of corruption of the US justice system that has reached the level of an unprecedented constitutional crisis?
LINKS:
[1] 11-07-06 PRESS RELEASE: ATF 'Gun Walking' Kenneth Melson - Key Figure in Corruption of the Justice System
http://www.scribd.com/doc/59417750/; Reply to this comment


by USMCSEMPER-FI March 21, 2011 10:56 PM EDT: Nothing the clowns at F troop could do would surprise me anymore. Having worked with their agency on a few occasions in the past, I think they are the most incompetent bunch of retards in law enforcement history. The government money wasted on ATF every year would be much better spent on care for our veterans or any number of other worthwhile causes. Congress needs to get off the dime and shut F Troop down, but they won't. In the end, it'll be glossed over for political expediency like all the other scandals and those responsible won't even be held accountable even though one, possibly two, U.S. law enforcement officers have already lost their lives to this illegal pipeline of firearms. I have absolutely no trust of anyone in our government anymore.; Reply to this comment

by mjlewis6 March 17, 2011 2:05 PM EDT

Illegal drugs would not be smuggled, no deadly competition between dealers, and no deaths to over-dosing...if only the buying would stop.

Mexico has a problem: drug use in the United States makes for criminal activity in Mexico to meet the demand.

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by DanFrain March 17, 2011 3:46 PM EDT: Isn't the solution obvious to you? If drugs were not illegal, there would be less profit in dealing drugs. If there were less profit in dealing drugs, prices would go down, followed by a drop in the crime rate. People would be better able to afford to buy whatever goofy stuff they wanted without having to steal or ***** themselves to support their using.


by ammo17 March 17, 2011 9:18 AM EDT: i remember hillary clinton that the USA was resposible for all the gun running was going into mexico,she was right the US GOVERNMENT was responsible.remember iran contra and well that worked out???; Reply to this comment