DOJ official knew of ATF "gunwalking" in April 2010

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

WASHINGTON - There is new information about how much the Department of Justice new about the controversial ATF tactic of letting guns "walk" into the hands of criminals.

Gunwalking is a controversial investigative tactic in which police allow suspects to traffic guns without stopping them in order to see where they end up. Documents just released this afternoon show the head of the Justice Department's criminal division, Lanny A. Breuer, learned about the tactic of ATF gunwalking as early as April of last year.

In a memo, Breuer's deputy wrote him that, in a case called "Wide Receiver" started under the Bush Administration, "ATF let a bunch of guns walk" in an effort to catch the big fish of Mexican drug cartels and said the gunwalking case could be "embarrassing" to ATF.

Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he "regrets" that he didn't alert others in Justice Department leadership, apparently including his boss Attorney General Eric Holder.

In a separate ATF case reported by CBS News earlier this year, called "Fast and Furious" and started under the Obama Administration, Breuer says he likewise regrets not alerting leaders about the similarities in the cases. That, said Breuer, was a mistake.

Republican Congressional investigators say this new information contradicts the Justice Department's original letter to them earlier this year insisting that gunwalking allegations were "false."

More Fast and Furious coverage:

Eric Holder to testify on Fast and Furious
Memos contradict Holder on Fast and Furious
Agent: I was ordered to let guns "walk" into Mexico
Gunwalking scandal uncovered at ATF

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 SemperFi1965 November 2, 2011 7:03 PM EDT: Lanny, forgot to mention the F.B.I {paid informants},I.C.E.{ Jamie Zapada's death},Homeland Security,Hillary Clinton,{Arms crossing our border}, A.T.F.{Newell,O'Reilly, Burke, Callahan}, D.E.A.,I.R.S., C.I.A. and other high level departments, WERE ALL INVOLVED IN this TREASON!! This is the biggest SECURITY scandal, in the history America!! This leads right to the white house, and they all have TWO DEAD AGENTS blood on their hands! Call your congressman and senators, and ask them" what are you doing" to support Senator Grassley, and Congressman Issa???; Reply to this comment


by rshawk November 2, 2011 7:14 AM EDT: Lanny Breuer's mia culpa doesn't quite explain things, does it? But, after watching him testify yesterday and handle questions, he deserves credit for being smooth. That guy is smart and he can talk. I'd swear he was the guy who sold me that timeshare.; Reply to this comment


by kevwells1 November 2, 2011 1:26 AM EDT: Sheryl, dig into Breuer. He is not a fall guy, but is carefully taking non-judicial blame to draw attention away from Holder and the fact that DOJ could have broken laws by not going through State Department for permission for Fast and Furious. Every other major reporter is not acknowledging that Breuer's expertise is white collar crime, not going after them, but defending them as he did Clinton, Sandy Berger, Enron, Haliburton, and Clemens. He is an $800 an hour lawyer.; Reply to this comment


by 1988JAck November 1, 2011 12:16 PM EDT: Wait, wait, this started under Bush? Bet the Republicans drop it like a hot potato now.; Reply to this comment

by Intellibronc November 1, 2011 11:32 AM EDT

One with any intellectual integrity would hope that this most corrupt admin in modern U.S. history gets what it deserves, 20-30 years for treason. Now, just 50 years ago, vermin like this would get executed. How far we've fallen. Wake Up Sheeple!!!

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by expatriate2 November 1, 2011 12:03 PM EDT: Study a little history, please. The Reagan Administration holds the record for the most indictments of its members of any administration in history.


by 1988JAck November 1, 2011 12:18 PM EDT: Your referring to the Bush Administration?


by ihavemydoubts November 1, 2011 11:27 AM EDT: So Eric Holder didn't know about F&F? OK then that makes him guilty only of obstruction of a congressional investigation, there can be no possible doubt about that charge.; Reply to this comment

by rainbowbrew November 1, 2011 9:16 AM EDT

Can someone tell me the war on drugs is really worth it? Its breeds corruption like this in our government at all levels. Plus it creates a black market that is harmful to everyone. The USA government is really at war with the people of the USA, all to keep jobs on the payroll at the expense of the human. The war has caused death, destruction, ruination of families, maiming individuals, corrupting police. yes that drug war is really worth it and they are doing to us the citizens of this country.

Damn foolish po0liticians, they can't learn squat.

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by hipshotpercusion November 1, 2011 10:08 AM EDT: Amen!

by Martha12345 November 1, 2011 8:33 AM EDT

The fall guy has been identified.

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by Well_You_Aint_Me November 1, 2011 9:33 AM EDT: Yep.

He earns one favor from Holder. Not sure I would want Holder to owe me one.


by Kenny777_y November 1, 2011 8:28 AM EDT: united states has been selling weapons of mass distruction for decades all over the world. fighter jets missles etc. etc. not to mention military bases in some 130 countrys ready to strike and destroy in a min. notice. DOJ, ATF, FBI, did just a cracker jack job in WACO TX. had to seek out and destroy a few men women and children. LANNY BREUER like someone mentioned is a scape goat or lamb. nothing wrong with setting trap to catch crimals. it worked with JOHN DE-LOREN huh. any way some of you will get my point and some will not.; Reply to this comment


by rshawk November 1, 2011 8:25 AM EDT: It's a great day to unlock the doors and file cabinets at the DOJ now that Lanny Breuer has bravely come forward and taken responsibility.; Reply to this comment