July 26, 2011 5:02 PM

ATF Manager says he shared Fast and Furious Info with White House

By
Sharyl Attkisson
Topics
Law and Order

(Credit: CBS/AP)
At a lengthy hearing on ATF's controversial gunwalking operation today, a key ATF manager told Congress he discussed the case with a White House National Security staffer as early as September 2010. The communications were between ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix office, Bill Newell, and White House National Security Director for North America Kevin O'Reilly. Newell said the two are longtime friends. The content of what Newell shared with O'Reilly is unclear and wasn't fully explored at the hearing.

It's the first time anyone has publicly stated that a White House official had any familiarity with ATF's operation Fast and Furious, which allowed thousands of weapons to fall into the hands of suspected traffickers for Mexican drug cartels in an attempt to gain intelligence. It's unknown as to whether O'Reilly shared information with anybody else at the White House.

Congressional investigators obtained an email from Newell to O'Reilly in September of last year in which Newell began with the words: "you didn't get this from me."

"What does that mean," one member of Congress asked Newell, " 'you didn't get this from me?' "

"Obviously he was a friend of mine," Newell replied, "and I shouldn't have been sending that to him."

Newell told Congress that O'Reilly had asked him for information.

"Why do you think he asked for that information," Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) asked Newell.

"He was asking about the impact of Project Gunrunner to brief people in preparation for a trip to Mexico... what we were doing to combat firearms trafficking and other issues."

Today, a White House spokesman said the email was not about Fast and Furious, but about other gun trafficking efforts. The spokesman also said he didn't know what Newell was referring to when he said he'd spoken to O'Reilly about Fast and Furious.

President Obama has said neither he nor Attorney General Eric Holder authorized or knew about the operation. Holder has asked the Inspector General to investigate.


  • Sharyl Attkisson

    Sharyl Attkisson is a CBS News investigative correspondent based in Washington. All of her stories, videos and blogs are available here.

Add a Comment See all 117 Comments
by theskeptical1 July 31, 2011 11:43 AM EDT
Let's see if I've got this straight-

Bill Newell, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) in the ATF's Phoenix office, knows all about their F&F program which is intentionally pouring thousands of illegal guns right into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels.

Newell shares this knowledge with his friend, Kevin O'Reilly, who just happens to be the White House National Security Director. The exchange of intel took place ALMOST A YEAR AGO!!

This is critical and potentially explosive information! Are we supposed to believe that O'Reilly then decided to just sit on it and not pass it up the line to others in the White House and the DOJ, such as Eric Holder? Maybe he didn't have to, since Holder and others *already* knew about it.

This is nothing less than a reckless, criminal conspiracy at the highest levels of the federal government. The only question is just how high does it go? Those loud scratching sounds you hear are the bureaucrats in the ATF, DOJ and undoubtedly the White House itself, frantically digging for something/anything, with which to cover their crooked, lying @sses.

And you can bet that the revelations to come will be even worse.
Reply to this comment
by sharky77 August 19, 2011 9:23 PM EDT
Google "Project Gunrunner A Cartel Focused Strategy September 2010" The DOJ and White House are supposed to be overseers of this project and the ATF operates under the direction of the DOJ and White House.
by oldinnj July 29, 2011 2:07 PM EDT
This big of an operation, the money spent to get it going, and Holder says he knew nothing? Thats hard to believe! why is he there? So someone in a lower position has authority to spend taxpayer money, put border patrol agents in danger, people living in border towns in danger, and NO ONE is actually accountable? How does this W.H. Admin. explain this mess?
Reply to this comment
by ammo17 July 29, 2011 11:38 AM EDT
i hope this gets eric holder to resign,this man should never have been attorney general after him and slick willy gave mark rich that free pass,i sure would like to know how much money was passed around when they pardoned that criminal.if this is true as i think it is,it is nothing but treason and murder.thousand of mexican civilians killed and only GOD knows how many american citizens besides the two that are already on record.
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by 1stlttightwad July 29, 2011 8:28 AM EDT
Thank you CBS for keeping this story current and us informed. I guess the thrill up the leg expressed by Chris Matthews hasn't gotten to you.
Reply to this comment
by Pynckone July 29, 2011 3:33 AM EDT
There is no question in my mind that Holder was fully aware of this, as well as his boss in the WH.

While this operation was in effect in all the border states, the is a quite sinister reason most of the guns came out of Arizona.

I firmly believe that the originators of this operation planned and selected Arizona to look as bad as it could be due to their passage of HB1070, and the heroic efforts of Governor Jan Brewer! (It is the Chicago way!)

In addition, the current firestorm over the debt crisis, constantly grabs the headlines, obscuring the Congressional hearings on this subject. The good news is the debt crisis will soon be resolved, and then Congressman Issa's hearings will come to the forefront
Reply to this comment
by expatriate2 July 28, 2011 5:09 PM EDT
cbskilledmyid July 28, 2011 11:37 AM EDT
I see your point, but this is too big to go hidden. This one goes all the way to the top, bet on it.

cbskilledmyid . . . . This may not be insulated from publicity, but will it be resolved by consequences or provisions guaranteeing that it will not happen again? I doubt it. On the international scene, the arrogance of the U.S. Government, whether controlled by liberals or conservatives, characterizes the nation and its people. That view may not be fair or accurate but it nonetheless exists. America is now at the point where its government has learned that it can do as it wishes and there will be no retribution from the people. Defeating a politician at the polls only means that another from the one-size-its-all warehouse of political hacks will be ready to take his place. The same dance will continue to the same song. It would not be a bad idea to demand from select universities that political ethics be taught to those wishing to pursue a career in politics and that a new party be formed with young, fresh idealists wanting to restore America and its Constitution and all the rights it provides.
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by fxr60 July 28, 2011 4:17 PM EDT
Will I be surprised if the "White House" and Holder knew about this? I think not! Hopefully it will all come out-keep investgating!!!! Let's see the Liberals and the Liberal press supress this, just like they do on a lot of stories on Obama and his ilk!!!
Reply to this comment
by truffle06 August 20, 2011 3:56 PM EDT
Do you think the President would honestly admit to having had knowledge of this travesty...full transparency. He has a knack for blaming the past administration and everyone possible for everything that has occurred on his "watch". Everyone involved in this should face extradiction to Mexico to face the legal ramifications for their act of immoral and illegal actions resulting in deaths both in the U.S. and Mexico. Were it just gunrunners, they would face prosecution. Members of the U.S. Government who allowed and condoned this should also face the same prosecution, regardless of their position. Isn't that what we would do if the situation were reversed?
by fxr60 July 28, 2011 4:15 PM EDT
Will I be surprised if the "White House" and Holder knew about this? I think not! Hopefully it will all come out-keep investgating!!!! Let's see the Liberals and the Liberal press supress this, just like they do on a lot of stories on Obama and his ilk!!!
Reply to this comment
by expatriate2 July 28, 2011 11:23 AM EDT
Does it occur to anyone that the United States Government is out of control and so fragmented into pockets of autonomous power that it no longer functions as an entity much less serves the people? And this is not a recent phenomena. The Contra Affair has been mentioned here and serves as a prime example as does Watergate.
History shows us that there are times when governmental systems, religions or social concepts simply outgrow themselves until they become incapable of providing services or affectively supporting beliefs and begin to feed on themselves.
The ATF fiasco is not its first. We can all remember Waco. But the ultimate message is that the Constitution no longer protects or provides but is simply ignored or circumvented. Citizens suffer the consequences and will continue to do so until they create the solution because their political representation cannot.
Reply to this comment
by Florida_Cracker July 28, 2011 1:55 PM EDT
It is absolutely out of control but this instance was VERY controlled, The entire "Gun walker", Fast and Furious operations was intended to prove that Americans were selling weapons to Mexico and Dominican Republic under "Operation Castaway" (see link to story )
http://lonelyconservative.com/2011/07/tampa-atf-office-walked-guns-into-honduras-operation-castaway/

These were programs designed to re-enact the assault weapons ban and seize weapons from legal gun owners in America but it blew up and now those giulty must pay.
I have to commend CBS Newst for keeping on top of this story and I hope they keep covering it as it unfolds.
by recoveringRepub July 28, 2011 1:58 PM EDT
This was all laid in place by the years before. If it was suggested that Bush had been involved he'd be a hero. It is just another attempt to discredit our President by those of the GOP who are intent to overthrow our way of life.
by Sloughfoot July 28, 2011 10:06 AM EDT
When it ends up in Holder's lap let us see if he then has the cahoonas to accept responsibility. After enough fan fare and the issue will no longer be a re-election popsicle for the Congressmen it will expire and the road goes on forever and the party never end.
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