EXCLUSIVE: Issa demands "gunwalking" information from Secretary Clinton

By: Sharyl Attkisson
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Today, the head of the House Oversight Committee fired off a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her agency's refusal to turn over documents and information about the ATF "gunwalking" scandal exposed by CBS News.

"Given the gravity of this matter, this refusal is simply unacceptable," reads the letter from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

Read Issa's full letter to Clinton (PDF).

Issa is acting in concert with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). On March 4, Grassley requested information from the State Department involving then-U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual's meetings with Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, Mr. Breuer's deputy, and other officials in Mexico City in the summer of 2010 regarding "on-going investigations" related to Project Gunrunner and its Fast and Furious component. However, the State Department has not provided any of the requested materials.

"This refusal is mystifying in its own right" and "stands in stark contradiction to the promise of transparency promoted by President Obama," reads the Issa letter. He is now asking for the information as well. "Additionally, please explain in detail the reasons behind your refusal to answer the Senator directly."

Gunrunning scandal uncovered at the ATF
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Agent: I was ordered to let U.S. guns into Mexico

Issa's committee may subpoena documents if they are not provided. So far, the Justice Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and several other agencies have been non-responsive to Grassley requests in the gunwalking investigation.

The State Department had no comment other than to say if the letter has been received, then it is being reviewed.

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 dougded April 4, 2011 1:55 PM EDT: I hope Ms. Attkisson is reading these comments..... Ms Attkisson, Do you really think that in this expanse of time that if some gunshop were involved with illegally transfering weapons, that there wouldn't be charges filed by now. This whole thing is a well orchastrated but poorly planned effort to pile some more useless laws on the innocent gun owners and dealers of America. All of these people I know abhor criminals and their acts. Why is this such a high priority for Democrats????? It really is very simple and it has been written in the pages of history. America is pretty much the only country that's citizens can still fight back against the evil that is out there. Why is it so hard to believe that that evil doesn't exist, yet so easy to believe that 160 million American gun owners who are law abiding mothers, fathers, businessmen, Doctors, lawyers, farmers etc. would be dangerous to ourselves? Uhhh? What the hel* ????? Do you hear me??!!; Reply to this comment


by DontTreadOnMevA March 30, 2011 3:42 PM EDT: We need to shed a spot light on boardergate!; Reply to this comment

by noloyalisti March 29, 2011 8:19 PM EDT

Who does this slimewad former used car salesman Issa think he is? He was installed by rich right wing corporate CEOs. The guy is a convicted felon for Gods sake. He should be in jail but instead he is preaching the law. Is this the Twilight Zone or something?

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by candidateDavid March 30, 2011 1:21 PM EDT: Didn't bother to do any research before you decided to be a good little Democrat and start badmouthing the Republican representative, did you? If you had, you would then know that his brother is the convicted felon. He has also never worked at a car dealership. Now, why don't you run along like a good little troll who's always saying, "Nothing to see here."


by Sportsnut62 March 30, 2011 6:06 PM EDT: very good loser. once again you have shown you have no idea what the heck your talking about. David was right in what he said, it was Issa's brother. and if you don't have a problem letting guns that the ATF knew was being bought by someone to be smuggled to the Mexican cartels, then you are way out of touch with reality. Considering one of those guns came back in to the US and killed a federal law official woking as a border agent in Arizona last december, and considering that the ICE Agent shot in Mexico six weeks ago might have suffered the fate because of this same smuggling operation should tell you that something just aint right.

PUT THE POLITICAL PARTY STUFF ASIDE and understand that the hell is really going on. this is NOT about Republican vs. Democract. This is about your government letting guns slip into the hands of the mexican cartels and kill people. You really okay with that???? because as an American, I AN NOT OKAY WITH IT in any way, shape, or form.

House Rep Issa and Senator Chuck Grassley have been trying to get information from the ATF, DOJ, and Dept. of State in regards to who know what and when.

The Fact that they are not getting any answers and that ATF and DOJ are doing their best not to have to go before congress should tell YOU and everyone else that SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE


by Imthaid2 March 30, 2011 7:14 PM EDT: Neither the repuppetcans or democrats are worth the cost of a pile of dog feces. The democrats are just the lessor of 2 evils. And, not by much. Time to get rid of these career politicians.

by wfw3536 March 29, 2011 7:42 PM EDT

You know there is a cover up going on. First we have Holder play dumb in front of a congressional committee and then the Janet N doesn't seem to know anything in front of a different committee. If you know anything about these agencies, you know something this big isn't done by some middle management person. It is beginning to smell, and some of these top folks need to be fired. Thanks CBS for staying on this cover up.

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by Sportsnut62 March 30, 2011 6:09 PM EDT: wfw you have to remember who you are talking about when it comes to the DHS Secretary. I mean remember, just last week she said the border is secure as ever, even though there is more violence associated with drug cartels taking place on american soil than there was 3-4 years ago.
and now the border patrol unions have come out and said she is completely wrong.
Now things might be better in the towns that are on the border, but you get out in no mans land, where there is no barrier fence of any kind and people and drugs are just streaming on over without any regard