Napolitano on ATF Fast and Furious: "We're waiting for the Inspector General"

By: Sharyl Attkisson
Topics: News ,; Law and Order

Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano speaks at House Judiciary Committee Oversight hearing, Oct. 19, 2011.

/ CBS News

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano said today she had no conversations with her one-time chief of staff former Arizona US Attorney Dennis Burke, about the Fast and Furious scandal that led to Burke's resignation. Burke was Napolitano's Chief of Staff when she governor of Arizona. He's the only government official to step down in the wake of the controversial operation that allowed thousands of weapons to be sold to traffickers supplying Mexican drug cartels.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight hearing today, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) questioned Napolitano about what communications she had after two Fast and Furious guns were found at the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry last December. Napolitano answered that she met with Assistant US Attorneys in the case because "I wanted to be sure those responsible for his death were brought to justice and every resource brought to bear." Napolitano says she did have conversations in December 2010 about the murder of Agent Terry "but at that point in time nobody knew about Fast and Furious."

More coverage:

DOJ: No 3rd gun in "Fast and Furious" murder
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Holder subpoenaed for documents in "Gunwalker"
AG Holder responds to critics on Gunwalker

An internal ATF email dated the day after Terry's death reveals the quick decision to not disclose the source of the weapons found at the murder when the primary suspect was charged: "... this way we do not divulge our current case (Fast and Furious) or the Border Patrol shooting case," wrote an ATF official.

As CBS News previously reported, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent under Napolitano's Homeland Security agency was assigned to a team of federal agents responsible for the Fast and Furious case.

Napolitano told Sen. Grassley she has asked ICE to look into the matter, but that she has taken no further action pending the results of a Justice Department Inspector General investigation.

"We are waiting for the Inspector General," Napolitano said.

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 baldy50047 October 21, 2011 11:30 PM EDT: Politicians: I saw nothing! I know nothing!; Reply to this comment


by model67a October 21, 2011 7:28 AM EDT: She is just another piece of crap that Obama has to give us!!!; Reply to this comment


by moretruthnow October 20, 2011 8:41 PM EDT: This occurred in Arizona and it was not something that President Obama or his administration would have ever agreed to do. Democrats are not the gun crazy selling party. That belongs to the GOP and the NRA who are hand in hand. Selling guns like that was outrageous and they knew it. It was the ATF in Arizona and the republican party in Arizona that cooked this up.; Reply to this comment


by ammo17 October 20, 2011 12:16 PM EDT: as i have been saying since obama named holder and napolitano to his close circle,they would be his down fall,holder a was a liar when he was with slick willy clinton and the mark rich pardon.and janet napolitano was the biggest mistake arizona ever made electing her to the governors mansion.these crimes are treason and mass murder and a lot of people have to go to jail.this administration will be a black mark on this country`s history and one of the most corrupt.; Reply to this comment


by rshawk October 19, 2011 4:44 PM EDT: I assume this is Cynthia Schnedar and she is an appointee. Has she ever been interviewed? Sharyl Attkisson reported that the OIG sent those secret tapes to the Phoenix US Attorneys office which is an object of the investigation. Is it wrong to question the legitimacy of this process?; Reply to this comment