Project Gunrunner update: Issa subpoenas the stonewallers
Our GOP watchdogs are on the job.
Project Gunrunner is not just going be swept under the rug by Obama’s corruptocrats.
Just in…
April 1, 2011 Contact: Frederick Hill (202-225-0037)
Chairman Issa Subpoenas ATF for ‘Project Gunrunner’ Documents
Subpoena comes after ATF fails to meet earlier deadline
WASHINGTON. D.C. – Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today announced the issuance of a subpoena to the Department of Justices’ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for documents related to the highly controversial “Project Gunrunner.”
“The unwillingness of this Administration – most specifically the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms – to answer questions about this deadly serious matter is deeply troubling,” said Chairman Issa. “Allegations surrounding this program are serious and the ability of the Justice Department to conduct an impartial investigation is in question. Congressional oversight is necessary to get the truth about what is really happening.”
On March 16, 2011, Chairman Issa wrote a letter to Acting Director Kenneth Melson of the ATF requesting specific documents related to Project Gunrunner, its “Fast and Furious” component, and records related to the death of Border Agent Brian Terry. ATF failed to meet the March 30th deadline for producing these documents and furthermore refused to voluntarily commit to any date for producing them.
Media reports have raised questions about the handling of operations involving gun trafficking into Mexico – specifically the allegation that ATF has had a policy of permitting – and even encouraging – the movement of guns into Mexico by straw purchasers. This practice may have contributed to the deaths of hundreds on both sides of the border, including federal law enforcement agents. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), who has also been pursuing the matter, recently stated, “I’m still asking questions and we’re still getting the runaround from the Justice Department, [t]hey’re stonewalling.”
President Obama recently stated that neither he nor Attorney General Holder authorized this operation. His statement did not specify whether Attorney General Holder was aware of this policy or who did authorize it. The Committee’s investigation seeks answers to these questions and the true nature of Project Gunrunner.
Documents subpoenaed and due to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by April 13, 2011, include:
1. Documents and communications relating to the genesis of Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious, and any memoranda or reports involving any changes to either program at or near the time of the release of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General report about Project Gunrunner in November 2010.
2. Documents and communications relating to individuals responsible for authorizing the decision to “walk” guns to Mexico in order to follow them and capture a “bigger fish.”
3. Documents and communications relating to any investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) or any other DOJ component following the fatal shooting of Agent Brian Terry, including information pertaining to two guns found at the crime scene that may have been connected to Project Gunrunner.
4. Documents and communications relating to any weapons recovered at the crime scene or during the investigation into the death of Agent Brian Terry.
5. Documents and communications between ATF and the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) who sold weapons to Jaime Avila, including any Report of Investigation (ROI) or other records relating to a December 17, 2009 meeting “to discuss his role as an FFL during this investigation.”
6. A copy of the presentation, approximately 200 pages long, that the Group 7 Supervisor made to officials at ATF headquarters in the spring of 2010.
7. Documents and communications relating to Operation Fast and Furious between and among ATF headquarters and Special Agent in Charge William D. Newell, Assistant Special Agents in Charge Jim Needles and George Gillette, Group Supervisor David Voth, or any Case Agent from November 1, 2009 to the present. The response to this component of the subpoena shall include a memorandum, approximately 30 pages long, from SAC Newell to ATF headquarters following the arrest of Jaime Avila and the death of Agent Brian Terry.
8. Documents and communications relating to complaints or objections by ATF agents about: (1) encouraging, sanctioning, or otherwise allowing FFLs to sell firearms to known or suspected straw buyers, (2) failure to maintain surveillance on known or suspected straw buyers, (3) failure to maintain operational control over weapons purchased by known or suspected straw buyers, or (4) letting known or suspected straw buyers with American guns enter Mexico.
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The tip of the iceberg. Go, Issa, go!
“We’re the Government. Group 7.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Never will.”
If the Obama regime won’t listen to the courts, what makes you think they’ll listen to Issa?
And if they don’t, what will Issa do?
Contempt of Congress? You think Barry will sit in jail for contempt? Please.
Kabuki theater. Nothing more.
Caught and now they wanna hide!
Ruby Ridge, Waco, and now this. ATF needs a serious overhaul. And that overhaul needs full visibility to the public.
Oh? Ya think?
Keep after them, Issa, and don’t forget where the jugular is, if you need it.
I truly hope Issa is not a paper tiger. I have real reservations about him. There should be ample evidence on numerous fronts to indict Obama’s entire administration. We need to see heads on pikes.
I am sure that the President and his administration will be more than happy to provide all of the documentation that is being requested. After all, this administration is one of the most transparent ever, as proven by the recent receipt of the coveted TRANSPARENCY AWARD in CLOSED, UNDISCLOSED, SECRET CEREMONY with NO PHOTOGRAPHERS OR PRESS INVITED. Right, eh? Mwahh ha ha ha.
This probably started as a legitimate Bush era plan that Holder saw as an opportunity to arm his bandido friends.
President Nixon recently stated that neither he nor Attorney General Mitchell authorized [the Watergate] operation.
Like.
What could he do? You think he will throw Barry in jail for contempt if he doesn’t comply with the subpoena?
Or even fine him $50 and time served?
There NEEDS to be some sort of action taken when the administration fails to produce documentation on time. It’s already happened and they don’t care as nobody is going to be punished.
Wait, are you sure this isn’t an April fool’s joke?
President Obama recently stated that neither he nor Attorney General Holder authorized this operation.
I may be wrong but, didn’t the White House request Millions of dollars from the Pork Bill, I think, to fund this operation? How could they not know and how could Steadman not be aware of it also?
How could they not know and how could Steadman not be aware of it also?
That was a stupid question, because Steadman said he did not know about it so, he must be telling the truth.
If history is any guide, the “crime” will be insignificant to the “cover up.”
I am sure tomorrow Obama will appoint a special prosecutor, currently living in Chicago to get to the bottom of all of this. /sarc
Queue the Fifth Dimension singing “Transparency”
“This is the dawning of the Age of Transparency
Age of Transparency, Age of Transparency
Transparency!!!!
I bet shredders are going full force at all these agencies! I sure hope to goodness Issa gets the information he demands, but with bho and team I’m not holding my breath. Is there anything what do ever can be done if bho and team just let this slide, as the do everything else?
L
Rep Issa is a racist, bigot, homophobe, nazi, (fill in the blank) in 3, 2 . . .
Good for Mr. Issa’s subpoenas and investigation-it is necessary. But it is really straining at gnats while we are choking to death on these Federal monstrosities. It is always the emotional argument–”people are hurting so let’s pass a law and set up a bureaucracy” and thus ever more power given to one people over another.
The answer?
===
Bring your federal agencies and programs here:
Three chopping blocks, no waiting
Oh oh. . I know the answer to this one !
They had to pass the bill to find out what’s in it.
I wish Rep. Issa much luck, he’ll need it facing off with the most corrupt administration ever.
Who IS Barry Soetoro?
The purpose of letting them walk was to provide fodder for their argument that guns from the US are arming Mexican drug cartels and that more gun control is needed.
This, and everything else they do, is all about their socialist agenda. If for a moment you start to believe otherwise…. stop… re-think it and get back to Obama’s reality.
They have a plan. And it’s a big one.
Fundamental Transformation.
Then,
New World Order
US under UN
No. The April Fool occupies White House, where its April Fools Day every day….only he thinks we’re the fools. And concerning the public at large, he’s often right.
Likely friends and relatives of the FALN terrorists he got pardoned.
AND to provide fodder for their quest to shut down legitimate gun dealers/stores: “See? This store sold these guns that were used by the drug cartels. This store is out of control and needs to be permanently closed.”
Holder stonewalling? Ya think? With this administration in contempt of court on two issues (that I know of) and still not bothering to comply, what makes anyone think this will be any different? Wake up America! We are being duped once again. And no one seems to be able to stop it, even with court orders and subpoenas. If that doesn’t do it, what can? All I can say is, go in there, cuff ‘em and book ‘em, Danno!! Contempt of court requires jail time, if I’m not mistaken.
How is it that a circuit court judge with a known liberal agenda is able to successfully shoot down a legitimately passed law in Wisconsin…but the “Justice” Department can ignore subpoenas? We need hundreds, no thousands of subpoenas directed at them. Everyone with a backbone needs to sue the he!! out of these crooks. Look what happened to Richard Nixon…he was fired! And the current administration is much MUCH more corrupt than even Tricky Dick!!
Therein lies our problem. How do you arrest the police?
Easy there Happy….. anyone who authorized the mining of Haiphong and the unrestricted bombing of North Vietnam with B52′s can’t be all bad. MY MAN DICK!!!
Yes…he had some good traits.
I don’t believe he would have resigned if he had been a democrat. In fact, he would have probably gotten a Transparency Award for Watergate.
#11 Then there’s the matter of enforcing a contempt citation against the President. Impeachment would be a proper response to non-compliance by the executive branch to a legitimate request for documents but that would also go nowhere at this point in time.
He wouldn’t have even been noticed.
On April 01, 2011 at 01:06 pm, Couple ATF/2A-related articles by Malkin – XDTalk Forums – Your XD/XD(m) Information Source! said:
Cool-boyan XD/XCD(m) and get a free holster.
For the longest time I’ve been wondering if the ATF has a legitimate purpose. All I’ve ever seen from them are actions of jackbooted thugs.
Yup.
Who says there is separation of powers in our government?
Sure! But getting the Republicans to go along with it is far too easy. See: giving the president the sole power to call out the military.
Issa is like the rest of the Republicans up there… he’ll talk tough, but in the end he won’t do anything positive to restore our country to the Constitution.
I know we have to talk about this stuff, but at some point, someone will have to actually do something about it.