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Obama on Fast and Furious: "People who have screwed up will be held accountable"

President Barack Obama gestures during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh

President Obama today responded to a question about Fast and Furious, the controversial ATF program which allowed thousands of weapons into the hands of traffickers for Mexican drug cartels. In an interview with ABC News, Mr. Obama said, "People who have screwed up will be held accountable."

Senate nixes future gun-running stings

According to an ABC News transcript of the president's interview with Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper, Mr. Obama said, "Our overarching goal consistently has been to say we've got a responsibility not only to stop drugs from flowing north, we've also got a responsibility to make sure we are not helping to either arm or finance these drug cartels in Mexico."

House Republicans have accused Attorney General Eric Holder of misleading Congress about when he knew about the controversial government program. During the interview, which airs tonight on Nightline, the president said, "It's very upsetting to me to think that somebody showed such bad judgment that they would allow something like that to happen. And we will find out who and what happened in this situation and make sure it gets corrected."

On October 6, the president said he had "complete confidence" in the attorney general and a Justice Department investigation of the gunwalking operation.

More coverage:

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

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