Government

Ex-ATF Deputy Director Resigns After Being Blamed in GOP ‘Fast and Furious’ Report

Ex ATF Deputy Director William Hoover Resigns After Being Nailed in Scathing Fast and Furious Report

(Center) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Assistant Director for Field Operation William Hoover(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

(TheBlaze/AP) — The former deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has left the agency following the uproar over a flawed gun-smuggling probe called Operation Fast and Furious.

William Hoover was the agency’s No. 2 official from 2009 to 2011. He was reassigned last October during an ATF staff shake-up prompted by questions about Fast and Furious.

ATF spokesman Drew Wade said Hoover’s last day was Tuesday. The same day that a Republican draft report on Operation Fast and Furious by Rep. Darrell Issa of California and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa was released.

The report says Hoover and four other ATF officials, all of who were reassigned within the ATF and the Justice Department, share much of the blame for problems in the Arizona gun-smuggling probe. It employed a risky tactic called gun-walking. Some 1,400 illicitly purchased weapons identified by the operation have not been recovered.

(RELATED: Read Part One of Scathing GOP ‘Fast and Furious’ Report)

The other four ATF officials singled out in Issa and Grassley’s Fast and Furious report are:

  • William Newell, the special agent in charge of the phoenix field division
  • William McMahon, Newell’s boss who was ATF’s deputy assistant director for field operations
  • Mark Chait, McMahon’s boss who was ATF’s assistant director for field operations
  • Kenneth Melson, former acting ATF director

The report that came out on Tuesday is the first of three reports from Issa and Grassely on Fast and Furious. The second report, which will be released “soon,” will deal with the roles of the deputy attorney general‘s office and the Justice Department’s criminal division. A third report will deal with the roles of the U.S. attorney general himself and other top officials at the Justice Department in responding to the national scandal after it erupted publicly in early 2011.

Congressional investigators say that the third report can only be completed “after the Justice Department fulfills its obligations to cooperate with the Congress and produce documents.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (57)

1 2
  • wkw58
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:36pm

    Fire Holder….disband the ATF….prosecute those who were responsible for the Brian Terry death.

    Report Post » wkw58  
    • WAZTIM
      Posted on August 3, 2012 at 11:04pm

      At least 401 accessory to manslaughter charges. Brian Terry is one, plus at least 400 Mexican citizens who lost their lives as well. These people lost their lives as a direct result of allowing criminals to walk with weapons, which is criminal in my opinion unto itself. They all need to be locked up, the ATF disbanded and send the unemployed agents to the Border Patrol. What has occurred here is a national embarrasment, just one more under Obama leadership.

      Report Post »  
    • SweetOlBob
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:42am

      WKW58: BRAVO ! I haven’t heard anyone but myself cry out to disband the criminal, murderous BATFE. As long as I can remember (and I’m an old duck) they have been responsible to no one but themselves and have created evidence, imprisoned innocents, cost innocent people their gun rights, and were responsible for the murder of those at Waco and Ruby Ridge even though the crimes attributed to those people were never proven.

      They are worse than a rouge agency, and the last I heard their budget was around 15 BILLION. Of course, they want that raised.

      Fast & Furious finally got the light down into the corners and made all the roaches scatter. They need to be dissolved.

      Report Post »  
    • SweetOlBob
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:59am

      WKW8: BRAVO ! ! You, besides myself are the only I have heard call for the abolishment of the criminal, murderous BATFE. They have always been a rouge agency, responsible to no one but themseles. they are largely to blalme for the murders at Waco and Ruby Ridge over alleged crimes that were never proven. They have created and twisted testing and evidence, imprisoned innocent citizens, caused biased,incorredt judgements, and ruined lives and businesses. To dispute any charges thay may bring against a business or individual is to invite bullying and biased, large scale prosecution. They need to be abolished !

      Report Post »  
  • nothinghere
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 11:04am

    same old crap,resign,retire,as long as they get full benifits,these people are associated with 2000-4000 murders,and resign with full benifits,it’s only fair.

    Report Post »  
    • WAZTIM
      Posted on August 3, 2012 at 11:11pm

      It is the “Golden Parachute” adjusted for inflation for the rest of their lives. Awesome deal considering they amke 33% more than their civilian counterparts. Ahhh to be a Federal Employee. One with blood on ones hands, just the reward they deserve. Disban the ATF.

      Report Post »  
  • tothepoint
    Posted on August 3, 2012 at 9:23am

    Obama and Holder should resign, too, as they are directly responsible for Brian Terry’s death and the deaths of hundreds of Mexicans and others.

    Report Post »  
  • arvadadan
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:28pm

    Time to break out the water board and start asking a few question, should get to the bottom of this in no time at all…

    Report Post » arvadadan  
    • starman70
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 8:31pm

      Resigned or retired, just tak’in the heat for his bosses.

      Report Post »  
  • JD2020
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:21pm

    He did not Resign….

    HE RETIRED…………….

    Big Difference, IMO……………..

    Report Post » JD2020  
    • Brittany-Imbriaarts
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:28pm

      Yeah it means he can still get money for his screw up

      Report Post » Brittany-Imbriaarts  
    • barber2
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:48pm

      Also that he probably made a “deal” with the Obama people. Someone had to go under the bus, and it couldn’t be anyone tied to this administration !

      Report Post »  
    • RoBoTech
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 8:35pm

      You are a LIAR.
      He resigned.

      Report Post »  
    • SweetOlBob
      Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:46am

      Right ! Now we get to keep him for the rest of his life.

      Report Post »  
  • johnpaulkuchtajr
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:18pm

    And I just hope that I am honored by being asked to supply the rope that hangs every treasonous bastard in ATF and DoJ convicted in a federal court for F & F.

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:14pm

    The Marxist POS is a coward and will throw whoever he has to under the bus to keep himself out of prison,Barry’s involved,up to his jug ears bank on it.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • h20sue
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:05pm

    We want Eric Holder GONE! Why hasn’t he been charged and thrown out? Who’s in charge? Obama????
    Just like poor Ollie, they have to have a “fall guy”, but who they really need to kick out is HOLDER.
    Give American’s a break. I hope they read these comments, as they should. We The People are upset and we have every right to be…. It’s no longer “our government”, it‘s Obama’s government, and America is broken…..

    Report Post »  
  • Southernsoul
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:54pm

    Sacrifice the pawns to protect the King.

    Report Post » Southernsoul  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:47pm

    The token fall guy won’t suffice we need Holder to step down and be prosecuted for his role in the crime and cover up.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • ENIGMA28724
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:46pm

    Now, if Holder and Obama would go thou and do likewise………

    Report Post »  
  • Carefreeflyer
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:45pm

    They all will need really good lawyers to stay out of Prison.

    Report Post » Carefreeflyer  
  • REVerse
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:33pm

    Holder is a piece of garbage.

    Report Post » REVerse  
  • jackact
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:33pm

    We want Holder.
    Skip the small fries.

    Report Post »  
  • DeOppressoLiber
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:30pm

    They are trying to get the GOP to let this die. Demand the investigation goes on.

    Remember it took BHO 3 times to okay a raid that had to cross INTERNATIONAL BORDERS to get UBL.

    He okays all hits on people who are on the Kill List which results in Drone strikes across INTERNATIONAL BORDERS.

    Why is it him making those decisions, because the WH says it involves US material crossing INTERNATIONAL BORDERS, and He has to make those command decisions.

    So they are trying to tell me that some mid level government agent (The old Rogue Colonel scam, aka Ole North) decided to put an operation together that involved sending US weapons, that provided LETHAL AID to our enemies, and that US weapon had to crossed INTERNATIONAL BORDERS, and no one in the WH new. I call BS.

    When it comes to crossing INTERNATIONAL BORDERS the WH knows about it. Yes when our military has a fight along the Afghan Pakistan border that information goes right to the top ASAP.

    Somebody ask the Press Secretary, and see what tap dancing he does.

    Report Post »  
    • 97Miner
      Posted on August 3, 2012 at 12:19pm

      And once they stand trial and convicted here (as they surely will be) we should send them to Mexico to stand trial there…I think the US still extradites to Mexico. No?

      Report Post » 97Miner  
  • lylejk
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:14pm

    Hopefully his retirement will be short lived and he be put in prison for his involvement which led to the murder of our border security folk not to mention the 100s (if not 1000s) in Mexico that have been murdered by the same weapons. :)

    Report Post » lylejk  
  • JBaer
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:53pm

    One down, (at least) four more to go.

    Report Post » JBaer  
    • I am 'We the People
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:11pm

      Not down yet, just resigned. He needs to be indited and given heavy murder accessory charges with heavy potential sentencing. The only way he could get a slightly lighter sentence would be if he told us everything he knew and knows about this and other operations like this.

      Report Post » I am 'We the People  
  • BIGWUN
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:52pm

    Australian Gun Law Update
    Here’s a thought to warm some of your hearts….
    From: Ed Chenel, A police officer in Australia
    Hi Yanks, I thought you all would like to see the real
    figures from Down Under.

    It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by
    a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by our own
    government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.

    The first year results are now in:
    Australia-wide, homicides are up 6.2 percent,
    Australia-wide, assaults are up 9.6 percent;
    Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

    In the state of Victoria alone,
    homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent.(Note that
    while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not
    and criminals still possess their guns!)
    While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady
    decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically
    upward in the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed
    that their prey is unarmed.
    There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and
    assaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home.

    Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public
    safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was
    expended in ‘successfully ridding Australian society of guns….’ You
    won’t see this on the American evening news or hear your governor or
    members of the State Assembly diss

    Report Post »  
    • goldham45
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:28pm

      Where did you get your facts and can we get a report to verify these statements. Not that I would not want to see it turn out the way you are reporting. But this Ed Chenel not dated email claims to offer statistics on what’s happened Down Under now that it has been ‘12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by our own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.’ Ed Chenel, if there is such a person, claims that in the first year homicides increased 6.2%, assaults were 9.6% more frequent, and armed robberies shot up 44%. His point: ‘The Australian experience speaks for itself. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens. Take note Americans, before it’s too late!’

      A quick search of the Internet’s Australian sites reveals that this email has been circulating, unchanged and apparently unquestioned by touch-not-my-gun folk, since at least as far back as Dec. 7, 2002, when members of a forum were asking, as you did, ‘Can this be true?’

      According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Ed Chenel email wasn’t accurate in 2002. Charged with keeping national crime statistics, this government agency reported: ‘Between 2001 and 2002, the proportion of murders, attempted murders, kidnapping/abductions and robberies that involved a weapon decreased.’ See http:

      Report Post » goldham45  
  • Owt_Raged
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:49pm

    Didn’t they have the official Obama “get out of trouble free” card? Seems everyone else does…

    Report Post » Owt_Raged  
  • kapnkd
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:47pm

    NO WAY!!!!

    Holder & Obozocommie would have thrown them under the bus a LONG time ago if F&F stopped at their desk.

    This STILL goes a lot further up the DEMONcRAT food chain than they are hoping we will stop our demands for the TRUTH!!!

    I still say it ends up on Obozocommie’s and Holders desk!!!!!

    Report Post » kapnkd  
    • spmcintyre
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:55pm

      The claim of Executive Privilege proves that is reason to believe that Obama knows more than he is admitting too.

      Report Post » spmcintyre  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:41pm

    So, now —without cover of privledge— he can be prosecuted for aiding and abetting murderers and drug dealers? He can be forced to provide testimony and be deposed?

    Report Post »  
  • korbin
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:37pm

    BFD vote the entire Government out of office. Lets clear the air evict them now and re-start. We would all crap ourselves after we really find out all of the illegal, immoral and theft being done with our tax dollars. We ll a least half of us posting on here the other half doesn’t pay federal taxes. oathkeepers.org

    Report Post »  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:37pm

    With pension and health care? Hmm, worth checking. Then what do you bet he gets hired by some security firm for higher pay than the guvmint job? They always do.

    Report Post »  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:55pm

      It‘s getting harder to get a job that has job security like the Government and it’s time to show all just because you are employed by the Gov it doesn’t mean you have job security. Time to fire them all.

      Report Post » SCREW-WINDOWS  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:00pm

      If he needs money, there is plenty in the book he can write. I just get the feeling that these people are going to start spilling their guts about the Obama muslim and his czars.

      Report Post »  
  • Larry E
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:34pm

    He should still be charged with accessory to the murder of the Border Patrolman! Then on conviction spend a nice long sentence in the slammer.

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 2, 2012 at 5:33pm

    Fine, he and the others need to be given an choice: testify with full immunity in return for provable facts, dates and all those of the administraiton involved, or face full prosecution for their crimes.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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