Project Gunrunner update: The fit hits the shan

By Michelle Malkin  •  May 4, 2011 10:29 PM

I’ve been red-flagging this most explosive homeland security scandal for you for more than a month.

Independent citizen journalists, inside whistleblowers, and relentless GOP watchdogs on Capitol Hill led by GOP Rep. Darrell Issa and GOP Sen. Charles Grassley have kept up the pressure on the Obama administration to come clean on this deadly, stimulus-funded border nightmare.

And now, the fit is really starting to hit the shan on the Project Gunrunner story.

The latest?

Top DOJ officials have been nabbed in the drive to find out who exactly knew what and when.

Dutchman6 at Sipsey Street Irregulars called it early on.

Matthew Boyle at The DC sums up:

Three Project Gunrunner documents Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican and House Oversight Committee chairman, released on Wednesday show high-ranking Justice Department officials were aware of Operation Fast and Furious and that there was a consistent administration policy that allowed American guns to be “walked” into Mexican drug cartels’ possession.

One of the documents shows Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer approved a wiretap application for suspects Operation Fast and Furious targeted in March 2010. The wiretap application process is lengthy and cumbersome, and often requires those applying to make strong case as to why they need it. So, Breuer would have been briefed in detail on Operation Fast and Furious before authorizing the wiretap.

Another document, a briefing paper from January 8, 2010, shows the administration’s step-by-step policy decisions and plans. The Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), wrote that the “investigation has currently identified more than 20 individual connected straw purchasers,” or those who bought weapons, under ATF surveillance, with the intent to traffic them to Mexican drug cartels. The briefing paper shows that ATF’s policy was to allow this to happen. “Currently, our strategy is to allow the transfer of firearms to continue to take place, albeit at a much slower pace, in order to further the investigation and allow for the identification of additional co-conspirators who would continue to operate and illegally traffic firearms to Mexican DTOs [Drug Trafficking Organizations] which are perpetrating armed violence along the Southwest Border.”

Friction” between watchdogs and Team Obama is growing, natch.

And Holder is finally, finally squirming on the hotseat.

As I’ve noted before, this goes far beyond the usual waste, fraud and abuse underwritten by progressive profligacy. It’s bloodstained government malfeasance overseen by anti-gun ideologues.

Through continued, unified grilling and demands for disclosure, those security-undermining zealots are being smoked out.

They can run away from Gunrunner, but they cannot hide.

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Posted in: Eric Holder,Guns

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Comments


  1. #101
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:20 pm, frontierguy said:

    The Muslim extremists who are in central and south america are learning Spanish so that they have no noticeable foreign accent. They get caught crossing the border and entered into the databases as a Mexican citizen. Even the native speakers who work immigration cannot tell the difference. As an illegal Mexican they can get all kinds of aid living in the United States much easier.

    I have a buddy working at an immigration checkpoint who came across someone who he swore was Mexican, then when he asked for a visa, the guy handed him an Iranian passport with his student visa allowing him to be in the U.S. My friend told me the scariest thing was this guy told him, you know if you learned Arabic I would think you were from the Middle East. My friend said he spoke Spanish with the same accent that people have in northern Mexico.

    We are screwed. If our bungling idiots in Washington D.C. are supplying “drug cartels” with weapons, just to supposedly prove a point. Are they supplying terrorists with the weapons that will be used against us? Knowingly or not?

  2. #102
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:46 pm, stillontheroad said:

    I think the Sock Puppet may be on the bad end of a crap stick:
    Debra Burlingame, the sister of Chip Burlingame (pilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon) met with President Obama today, along with other families who were victims of 9/11. Burlingame describes the encounter with Obama: “As a former attorney I know you can’t tell the Attorney General what to do, he said, ‘No, I can’t.’ But I said ‘we — that shouldn’t stop you from giving your opinion. We wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t done their jobs. Can’t you at least give them your opinion.’ And he said ‘no I won’t,’ and he turned around and walked away.”

  3. #103
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:47 pm, tone said:

    Hey idiots, for those of you who don’t get it yet, here is the proof you already live in the New World Order. All the elites need is to always have frauds like this posing as so called Republicans to ensure they will always have statist criminals running the show. Treasonous Frauds, everyone of these scoundrels that voted for this TERRORIST to become the head of DoJ.

    Alexander (R-TN)
    Bennett (R-UT)
    Bond (R-MO)
    Chambliss (R-Ga)
    Collins (R-ME)
    Corker (R-TN)
    Graham (R-SC)
    Grassley (R-IA)
    Gregg (R-NH)
    Hatch (R-UT)
    Isakson (R-GA)
    Kyl (R-AZ)
    Lugar (R-IN)
    McCain (R-AZ)
    Murkowski (R-AK)
    Sessions (R-AL)
    Snowe (R-ME)
    Specter (R-PA)
    Voinovich (R-OH)

  4. #104
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:51 pm, tone said:

    Just look at that list. ^^^ Read it over and over again. Never forget it. They knew who this man is, I knew who this man is, but these FRAUDS, these TRAITORS, these disgusting DISGRACES to this country and everything it stands for voted for this COMMUNIST CRIMINAL to become our nations highest law enforcement officer…

    Hold EVERY ONE of these tricksters ACCOUNTABLE please, I really don’t care how much they have done for your state. Enough with the New World Order Sellouts and FRAUDS.

  5. #105
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:51 pm, letget said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:46 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Can you in your wildest imgaination, see President Bush doing that to anyone much less a family member of one who died in 9/11? Ths whole thing today was a photo op to get the polls up for bho, simple as that!
    L

  6. #106
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:53 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:46 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Wow, he talked to Debra Burlingame that way? Why am I not surprised? She is very critical of him and he can’t stand that. Anyone who isn’t in his back pocket is SOL. Look at Texas. They finally got an answer to their request for emergency aid for all the fires. The answer was “NO”. Obama is an a$$hole. No other word quite suffices here.

  7. #107
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:55 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:47 pm, tone said:
    Hey idiots, for those of you who don’t get it yet, here is the proof you already live in the New World Order. All the elites need is to always have frauds like this posing as so called Republicans to ensure they will always have statist criminals running the show. Treasonous Frauds, everyone of these scoundrels that voted for this TERRORIST to become the head of DoJ.

    I’m not too surprised at that list. They all have to go…next time they are up for re-election, we must make sure they are defeated. I am printing out the list for future reference. Get the word out!

  8. #108
    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:56 pm, letget said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:53 pm, happyscrapper said:

    I am going to be watching Cavuto in a few minutes and he might have this whole thing on. BTW, will you be watching the r presidental debate on Fox tonight that will include Herman?
    L

  9. #109
    On May 5th, 2011 at 4:00 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:56 pm, letget said:
    I am going to be watching Cavuto in a few minutes and he might have this whole thing on. BTW, will you be watching the r presidental debate on Fox tonight that will include Herman?
    L

    I’m heading into the LR to watch Cavuto also.

    And YES, I will be watching the debate tonight. Herman Cain is going to finally get the name recognition he needs. I have very high hopes for him. And those idiots who decided not to debate tonight are going to be sorry. I guess they think they are above it all. They are going to be losers, count on it!

    Later…

  10. #110
    On May 5th, 2011 at 4:25 pm, BOB said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:11 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    There are enough people to defend this nation and it’s constitution should it come to that. It hasn’t and probably won’t. But if it did, there are enough that would commit to protecting America, or die trying.

    Any ideas on what would have to happen to prompt these people to act?

  11. #111
    On May 5th, 2011 at 4:28 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    They all have to go…next time they are up for re-election, we must make sure they are defeated.

    For the senate, its critical, since we can only go after them every 6 years. I don’t know if its possible to get or elect conservative candidates for the senate in some states, but try we must. Actually, some on that list should have already have been, or gracefully be,retiring instead of runing for re-election anyway. But we all know there is little grace in many politicians.

  12. #112
    On May 5th, 2011 at 4:39 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Does anyone remember what it really ment to be a free people?

  13. #113
    On May 5th, 2011 at 4:43 pm, Hiraghm said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 4:39 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Does anyone remember what it really ment to be a free people?

    Barely.

    But, soon, Big Brother will be telling all of us that we never were really free.

  14. #114
    On May 5th, 2011 at 5:13 pm, stillontheroad said:

    Hiraghm said:
    I can see it coming as well, the Freedom is Slavery mantra. And to think a minority of people believe all this socialist tripe and they hold such sway on our republic.

  15. #115
    On May 5th, 2011 at 5:30 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    And to think a minority of people believe all this socialist tripe and they hold such sway on our republic.

    Freedom is slavery!

    Ignorance is strength!

    That minority of people in charge and the Democrat party in general have thrived on ignorance. Truly is their strength.

  16. #116
    On May 5th, 2011 at 6:03 pm, Marshall_Will said:

    The other day I offhandedly suggested the GOP run as generic a candidate as possible. I went so far as to endorse Jack from JITB.

    Caroline Baum agrees! ( Been reading her columns almost as long as MM! )

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/-generic-republican-is-one-to-unseat-obama-commentary-by-caroline-baum.html

  17. #117
    On May 5th, 2011 at 6:15 pm, Green eyed Lady said:

    Specter (R-PA)

    We finally got rid of this piece of dirt
    One down..eighteen to go.

  18. #118
    On May 5th, 2011 at 7:28 pm, rocketman said:

    ***
    If I did a “straw man” purchase for 1 gun and transferred it to someone in Mexico–and it could be proved–I would be looking at some serious jail time.
    ***
    I think Attorney General Eric Holder and any of his Department of (social) Justice ilk who approved sending thousands! of firearms to Mexican drug gangs should enjoy equal opportunity full jail time benefits for their stupid, illegal, and murderous actions in this Gunrunner (Gunwalker?) disaster.
    ***
    Too many Mexican and American Citizens have paid with their lives, livelyhoods, and possessions due to DOJ actions.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  19. #119
    On May 5th, 2011 at 8:29 pm, burlapman said:

    holder is just one of many leftie ideologues in this administration circumventing the constitution. they do it any way they can to further their socialist goals. they all need to go, sooner rather than later. november 2012 cant get here fast enough.

  20. #120
    On May 5th, 2011 at 8:48 pm, swede said:

    hawkeye54 said:
    That minority of people in charge and the Democrat party in general have thrived on ignorance. Truly is their strength.

    “Life is hard. It’s harder when you’re stupid.” – John Wayne

  21. #121
    On May 5th, 2011 at 11:55 pm, Ellyk said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 7:28 pm, rocketman said:
    ***
    If I did a “straw man” purchase for 1 gun and transferred it to someone in Mexico–and it could be proved–I would be looking at some serious jail time.
    ***
    I think Attorney General Eric Holder and any of his Department of (social) Justice ilk who approved sending thousands! of firearms to Mexican drug gangs should enjoy equal opportunity full jail time benefits for their stupid, illegal, and murderous actions in this Gunrunner (Gunwalker?) disaster.
    ***
    Too many Mexican and American Citizens have paid with their lives, livelyhoods, and possessions due to DOJ actions.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

    I absolutely agree.

  22. #122
    On May 6th, 2011 at 12:12 am, Ellyk said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:46 pm, stillontheroad said:
    I think the Sock Puppet may be on the bad end of a crap stick:
    Debra Burlingame, the sister of Chip Burlingame (pilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon) met with President Obama today, along with other families who were victims of 9/11. Burlingame describes the encounter with Obama: “As a former attorney I know you can’t tell the Attorney General what to do, he said, ‘No, I can’t.’ But I said ‘we — that shouldn’t stop you from giving your opinion. We wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t done their jobs. Can’t you at least give them your opinion.’ And he said ‘no I won’t,’ and he turned around and walked away.”

    Here’s the vid over at RealClearPolitics:

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/05/05/burlingame_after_meeting_with_obama_he_turned_his_back_on_me-comments.html

    He just cannot help but make an arse out of himself, can he?

  23. #123
    On May 6th, 2011 at 9:46 am, reshas1 said:

    Seems like this admin WANTS MX to be armed on our border, I wonder why????

  24. #124
    On May 6th, 2011 at 10:10 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    BOB said:

    On May 5th, 2011 at 3:11 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    There are enough people to defend this nation and it’s constitution should it come to that. It hasn’t and probably won’t. But if it did, there are enough that would commit to protecting America, or die trying.

    Any ideas on what would have to happen to prompt these people to act?

    I don’t think we’re even close to anything of that sort. This is a political fight. And it’s winnable. And the kinds of actions that might bring about that sort of turmoil, I don’t believe are in Obama’s character. Oh, he’s a self-aggrandizing radical liberal for sure. But his failings are more about ignorance and incompetence. He’s not evil.

    I’d be more worried about the groundwork he is laying. And about the people that surround him. If he gets a lock on the majority for closet extremists liberal, then a decade from now, the story might be different.

    If our core freedoms are taken away, it won’t go over well.

  25. #125
    On May 6th, 2011 at 10:20 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    reshas1 said:

    Seems like this admin WANTS MX to be armed on our border, I wonder why????

    Squashing the 2nd Amendment is a BIG priority for members of this administration.

    I think what some involved really wanted was US sourced guns to be turning up in Mexico and in arrests of border-crossers so that this information could be used to take away our right to bear arms.

    What they didn’t plan for was to be subpoenaed because they lost the majority in the house. They probably figured they would have their backs covered by a complicit Congress.

    Oops…

  26. #126
    On May 6th, 2011 at 1:43 pm, rocketman said:

    ***
    HI NJ_AVIATOR–#124. I hope you are right–that our country’s future will be decided by ballots–not bullets. We are a nation of laws. But we see Comrade Obama, his DOJ actions, Czars, and his SCOTUS picks all trending in a non Constitutional direction. Review his actions when President Zayala of Honduras wanted to violate their Constitution and stay in power past the one 5 year term permitted. The U.S. Government backed Zayala against the Honduran people–who sent him packing.
    ***
    What would it take to bring on American Civil War II? For me it would be cancelling the Nov. 2012 elections due to some ginned up “national emergency”. Or taking away our basic rights as outlined in the Constitution.
    ***
    Remember–at one time Fidel Castro was seen as a reformer who was going to help the Cuban People to reclaim their liberty and to give them a better life. Check out Yoanni Sanchez’ GENERACIONY blog to see how well that worked out for them over the last 50 years.
    ***
    Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that they’re not out to get you!
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  27. #127
    On May 7th, 2011 at 10:59 am, Virginia Patriot said:

    He’s not evil.

    I disagree, anyone who knowingly hides the facts of his ineligibilty to obtain an office he is ineligible for isn’t honorable.

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