ATF Gunwalking docs show Justice Dept. feared bad press

By: Chris Scholl
Topics: Law and Order

An e-mail exchange among Justice Department officials in 2010 shows some in the Department worried about bad press if reporters knew the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives let guns "walk" into the hands of drug cartels.

The e-mail exchange occurred in October 2010, almost four months before the gunwalking scandal broke publicly.

DOJ official knew of ATF gunwalking in April 2010

It's included among more than 500 pages of documents released Monday by the Justice Department in response to a Congressional subpoena. The exchange is especially revealing because it demonstrates a level of awareness among some at Justice, which oversees ATF, that the practice of "gunwalking" could be viewed as embarrassing.

"It's a good case," wrote Laura Sweeney, a Justice public affairs specialist about a gunwalking case known internally as Operation Wide Receiver started in 2006. "But the only obstacle will be explaining why we let them continue to send guns to Mexico while we were investigating."

ATF Fast and Furious secret audio recordings

Among the recipients of that e-mail was James Trusty, at that time Justice's Deputy Chief for Litigation. "I think we can navigate through this stuff fine," Trusty wrote. "Bottom line is bad guys who trafficked guns into MX (Mexico) are being targeted and indicted, so I don't see any of these questions as being so dreaded as to negate the good news component."

The case prosecutor pointed out that ATF had intercepted 50 of the hundreds of weapons ATF let walk in Wide Receiver. Sweeney in Public Affairs wrote, "Well done!!"

The three agreed to move forward on publicizing arrests in the case, minimizing the negative gunwalking aspect. But a second e-mail exchange later shows that higher officials in the department eventually nixed publicity.

"Why did we decide not to do any press (even a press release) on it?" wrote Mythili Raman, Chief of Staff to the head of Justice's Criminal Division.

"Lots of guns allowed to go south," Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jason Weinstein replied. "(we) agreed the case would be weaved into anti-ATF story."

Guns the ATF let walk in a similar case known as Operation Fast and Furious, started in 2009, turned up at the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry just a month later.

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

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by rshawk November 2, 2011 12:23 PM EDT: The fear of bad press disorder ( FOBPD ) is not well understood. It is conservatively estimated that 99% of the DOJ political appointees may be suffering from FOBPD and that number could be higher according to the APA brochure, 2 unnamed sources, and the New York Times. Written communications such as " I don't like the perception that guns walked" ( Newall et al ) , paranoid behavior when letters arrive from Charles Grassley, and lack of candor are hallmarks of this illness. Be aware that these sufferers may lash out ( yell, scream ) at unwelcome journalistic inquiries and blame others.; Reply to this comment


by Rodeo_Joe November 2, 2011 7:29 AM EDT: Vs. DOJ crackdown on U.S. Medical dispensaries for "public safety".

Yea, right. Automatic weapons - ok; but brownies - a threat.

If someone broke the Law - investigate - and bust the DOJ.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage November 2, 2011 2:31 AM EDT: Afraid of bad press? The DOJ is supposed to STOP criminal felony activity and prosecute it, when it is aware it is happening?!
When it knowingly fails to do this, and in fact, ALLOWS it to proceed...it is in fact, an ACCOMPLICE to the act!!

A whole lot of people at BOTH ATF and DOJ should be arrested, tried, and imprisoned! When the people in charge don't obey
the law, there's no reason why the public should, either!

I agree with most of what other commenters have said, too!; Reply to this comment


by Kat1157 November 2, 2011 2:28 AM EDT: I do not understand why CBS refuses to acknowledge the fact that Mike Vanderboegh and David Codrea broke this story on December 28th, 2 weeks after the murder of Brian Terry. By the time that Sharyl did her first story on Feb 23rd, David and Mike had produces almost 160 stories on the topic of Fast and Furious and they continue to drive the vast majority of enterprise stories. I appreciate the coverage that CBS has provided, particularly the interviews of Dodson and Gil, however CBS didn't "break" anything.; Reply to this comment


by erichsh November 1, 2011 9:32 PM EDT: The Justice department fearing bad press? Hell, when has any Obama crony had to worry about bad press? The media LOVES Obama! Now, had this happened under a Republican president, you'd see the story as frequently as you now see the word "Cain" on the cbsnews.com home page.; Reply to this comment


by Anotheryahoo November 1, 2011 7:53 PM EDT: These alphabet agency's are the problem, not the solution. Isnt it interesting how they cant patrol our border and stop the drug cartels but can send our soldiers to the other side of the planet in Afghanistan to watch their border? The Federal govt is corrupt and half of it needs to be shut down. ATF is corrupt. Any agency that has no oversite should be dismantled at every level. RON Paul will do it if we let him.; Reply to this comment


by jt92202 November 1, 2011 6:38 PM EDT: This is just getting worse, . "Bottom line is bad guys who trafficked guns into MX (Mexico) are being targeted and indicted, so I don't see any of these questions as being so dreaded as to negate the good news component."

There are very FEW people that have been arrested in this case and they are small potatoe's compared to the people that actually got the guns in the long run in MX! The Cartel is now hiring young teens (11 to 18) year old school kids to move a car from point A to point B (DRUGS) in TEXAS!! WHAT THE HEll is the ATF, DEA and DOJ doing???

Someone needs to take responsibility for what is happening at and around the border, doubt anyone will though!!!; Reply to this comment


by DocD--2008 November 1, 2011 6:00 PM EDT: The real question is, why are these people now not in jail awaiting trial?; Reply to this comment


by Well_You_Aint_Me November 1, 2011 5:43 PM EDT: "Trusty wrote. "Bottom line is bad guys who trafficked guns into MX (Mexico) are being targeted and indicted, so I don't see any of these questions as being so dreaded as to negate the good news component."

OOPS! Poor planning there.; Reply to this comment


by jamesw62 November 1, 2011 4:38 PM EDT: Fearing bad press??? come on. you gotta be kidding me... LOL
if this wasnt so funny, it would be stupid.

Hey ATF, what are you feeling NOW???? still have that fear there, or are you just stupid?; Reply to this comment