Justice Dept. Tries to Explain How It Got Its Story Wrong on Fast & Furious
- Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:21pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The Justice Department on Friday provided Congress with documents detailing how department officials gave inaccurate information to a U.S. senator in the controversy surrounding Operation Fast and Furious, the flawed law enforcement initiative aimed at dismantling major arms trafficking networks on the Southwest border.
In a letter last February to Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Justice Department said that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had not sanctioned the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser and that the agency makes every effort to intercept weapons that have been purchased illegally. In Operation Fast and Furious, both statements turned out to be incorrect.
The Justice Department letter was responding to Grassley’s statements that the Senate Judiciary Committee had received allegations the ATF had sanctioned the sale of hundreds of assault weapons to suspected straw purchasers. Grassley also said there were allegations that two of the assault weapons had been used in a shootout that killed customs agent Brian Terry.
In an email four days later to Justice Department colleagues, then-U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke in Phoenix said that “Grassley’s assertions regarding the Arizona investigation and the weapons recovered“ at the ”murder scene are based on categorical falsehoods. I worry that ATF will take 8 months to answer this when they should be refuting its underlying accusations right now.” That email marked the start of an internal debate in the Justice Department over what and how much to say in response to Grassley’s allegations. The fact that there was an ongoing criminal investigation into Terry’s murder prompted some at the Justice Department to argue for less disclosure.
Some of what turned out to be incorrect information was emailed to Lanny Breuer, the assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s criminal division. Breuer sent an email saying “let’s help as much as we can” in responding to Grassley.
The emails sent to Capitol Hill on Friday showed that Burke supplied additional incorrect information to the Justice Department’s criminal division that ended up being forwarded to Breuer. For example, Burke said that the guns found at the Terry murder scene were purchased at a Phoenix gun shop before Operation Fast and Furious began. In fact, the operation was under way at the time and the guns found at the Terry murder scene were part of the probe. Breuer was one of the recipients of that information. In written comments this week to Grassley, Breuer said that he was on a three-day official trip to Mexico at the time of the Justice Department response and that he was aware of, but not involved in, drafting the Justice Department statements to Grassley. Breuer says he cannot say for sure whether he saw a draft of the letter before it was sent to Grassley.
Where Burke got the inaccurate information is now part of an inquiry conducted by the inspector general’s office at the Justice Department.
Burke’s information was followed by a three-day struggle in which officials in the office of the deputy attorney general, the criminal division and the ATF came up with what turned out to be an inaccurate response to Grassley’s assertions.
Initial drafts of the letter reflected the hard tone of Burke’s unequivocal assertions that the allegations Grassley was hearing from ATF agents were wrong. Later drafts were more measured, prompting Burke to complain in one email: “Every version gets weaker. We will be apologizing“ to Grassley ”by tomorrow afternoon.”
In another email, Burke wrote, “By the way, what is so offensive about this whole project“ of response ”is that Grassley’s staff, acting as willing stooges for the Gun Lobby, have attempted to distract from the incredible success in dismantling“ Southwest Border ”gun trafficking operations“ and ”not uttering one word of rightful praise and thanks to ATF — but, instead, lobbing this reckless despicable accusation that ATF is complicit in the murder of a fellow federal law enforcement officer.”
On Friday night, Grassley spokeswoman Beth Levine said that after learning from the Justice Department that the emails would be released, “Mr. Burke personally apologized to Sen. Grassley’s staff for the tone and the content of the emails.”
It is unusual for the Justice Department to provide such detail of its internal deliberations as it did on Friday with Congress.
The department turned over 1,364 pages of material after concluding “that we will make a rare exception to the department’s recognized protocols and provide you with information related to how the inaccurate information came to be included in the letter,” Deputy Attorney General James Cole wrote Grassley and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is looking into the Obama administration’s handling of Operation Fast and Furious.
Operation Fast and Furious involved more than 2,000 weapons that were purchased by straw buyers at Phoenix-area gun stores. Nearly 700 of the Fast and Furious guns have been recovered — 276 in Mexico and 389 in the United States, according to ATF data as of Oct. 20.
Amid probes by Republicans in Congress and the IG, the Justice Department in August replaced Burke, acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson and the lead prosecutor in Operation Fast and Furious.
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Comments (101)
KangarooJack
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:17amApologies-for some reason, this entire story just grinds my gears. In fact, it really ****** me off. That Holder hasn’t slunk off into Detroit is beyond me. What a slimeball! Wait, within a year Border Agent Terry will be portrayed as an officer on ‘the take’ and lots of ‘unconfirmed but from reliable sources’ will smear his name. Heck, I don’t doubt his widow will be fair game…
If it were’nt for the fact that American Citizens are being held for their THOUGHTS ALONE in my own little burb, I wouldn‘t believe so badly about our Gov’t. Got a feeling, that this will only increase in the upcoming year. THEY will be described as those crazy radical tea people…lol
Report Post »shirelover
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:09amI’m with you, this whole story is beyond belief. and I am surprised the attacks have not already begun on Mr. Terry and his family. One thing that struck me was how often the article used the words ‘incorrect“ and ”inaccurate” for outright lies!
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 9:21amWell, they sure had enough time to get their story straight. Lol
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 10:16amAnd they STILL f’ed it up. Bunch of a$$ clowns….
Report Post »robert
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 11:44am“Justice Dept. Tries to Explain How It Got Its Story Wrong on Fast & Furious”
Yes, they were backed into a corner with their clumsy, amateurish lies and are now resorting to a different approach to try to cover it all up. They forgot or were misunderstood isn’t working anymore.
Their intent to begin with was to try to fool the country into believing Mexican drug gangs got their AK 47′s and M-16′s from the US in order to pursue their unrelenting desire to demonize gun ownership to the point where they can evuntually outlaw them.
The vast, vast majority of Cartel weapons comes from the black market throughout Central and South America and Eastern Europe and are comprised of FULLY AUTOMATIC AK-47′s and M-16′s. Trying to make anyone believe Cartels with almost unlimited purchasing power will settle for semi-automatic AK-47′s and M-15′s from the US will fool only the most ignorant and ill-informed.
This entire fiasco is based ENTIRELY on a scheme to water down the 2nd amendment, and just like WACO the BATF got their asses handed to them in a basket.
The entire department is corrupted from the top down. And with a black Marxist in charge of the country and the DOJ now they have unlimited opportunities to pursue their illegal activities.
Defund them. Get them out.
Does anybody believe leftist freaks can create their multicultural mish mash of oddballs while the population is armed to the teeth?
Report Post »Veritas Libertas
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 9:09pmCould you imagine the swell of support a presidential candidate would receive if they clearly stated that, if elected, the would pursue legal action against those involved?
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 9:14pmIts Easy How Holder Got His Story Wrong: TREASON
Holder lied because he is a traitor to his country. He should face charges and get disposed of like Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were.
Report Post »Lt_Scrounge
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 6:41pmWhile I agree with you Veritas Libertas, don’t expect to see any of these criminals see the inside of a jail cell. Those that Obama doesn’t pardon completely on his last day in office, will simply negotiate a plea deal for a misdemeanor charge and receive a slap on the wrist ala Franklin Raines, and/or Sandy Berger. The vast majority of the attorneys in the DOJ need to be purged. They are simply too entrenched with the liberals in the Democratic socialist party. The bulk of them are incompetent or corrupt. Same can be said of many of the heads of the various federal law enforcement agencies. Many only hold their positions because they are incapable of getting or holding a job in the private sector. They hold their positions through political cronyism that allows them to be promoted by political appointees who will expect them to attack their political opponents and look the other way when their allies commit crimes.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:49pmIf one wanted to Track some Arms… one would have a Location Emitting Device in each Weapon.
LIES!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 9:05amIts a cover- up…. Your supposed to get your story wrong !!! Thats why they call it a cover up…
Report Post »ME
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:48pm=
Pr0t3ct!on#cyber_security@12*12.2011+
but could not get past the first question in the interview so I thought some of you might like a try:)
I will go back to being the idiot that can not spell now:) because most people think there is spelling on an IQ test:(
Report Post »Free2speakRN
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:37pmIt would be nice to see an investigation that was ‘fast and furious’.
Stalling!!!
“Let’s get past this election first. Then we’ll get things to settle down. Besides, what are they going to do then?”
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 7:52pmThats a plan and a good one. I am waiting for justice to return to the USA and its legal citizens. No not those that have been pushed in by the business lobbies, SEND THEM HOME, about 40 million of em
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:24pmEveryone involved in the fast and furious fiasco from Mr Obama on down needs to be removed from office and charged with the criminal violations of the law they have commited; how many more of our people in the border patrol and the streets of America need to die before the Obama admin goes into the night for good?
Why are so many of the Democrats still protecting Mr Obama and all those involved in this and all the other corruption being daily uncovered?
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:07am-they are trying to hold fast and furious to their jobs. After 1 term in Congress you get lifetime Healthcare…then again, they will have to face THEIR OWN Health Care Panels in their twilight years…funny how things go round and round.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:22amFast and Furious would be but one reason to remove Obama. Libya, Solyndra, $88B missing from the Fed, Africa, Obamacare, Gun Control via the UN, Cass Sunstein in a position that doesn’t answer to anyone yet writes unlimited regulations. I could go on as I’m sure most people here are aware. I know SnowLeopard knows these things. This man has purposely worked outside the constitution since taking office and that alone is an impeachable offense.
Report Post »kcares
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:14amBecause they are as corrupt as Obama.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:19pmBorder Agent Terry is dead – shot with a gun purchased under the ‘watchful eye’ of ATF/Homeland Security Agents. What went wrong was that Terry got killed prior to ZBO! {ZeeBigOne}. BATF & HS were amped for the big one…but, gee, this guy got killed before we were all ready.
Frankly, I‘m sick of the games our gov’t plays. They play with lives like we are plastic chessmen.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:57pmWell some posted an excerpt for Woordward’s book where it is alleged that Kissinger told Haig that the military were pawns. So par for the course.
Report Post »Tretka
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:11pmI tell you what, the Presidential Candidates should use this one. Bad, bad, bad.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:38amTRETKA, the republicans keep passing up so many opportunities that would help them win thw 2012 election, I don’t get it either.
Report Post »LAM2
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 2:40amPamela,
Report Post »I believe it’s strategically too early for the Republican Presidential candidates to launch their most serious salvos at Obama. The primaries don’t start until January, and it likely will take a number of months to select a candidate. If the Republican hopefuls unload on Obama now, it will all be old news by next summer and fall during the general election when everyone is paying attention. For now I’m satisfied to have Darrell Issa gathering information, since doing that takes months due to the stonewalling. Of course, that doesn‘t preclude the candidates from reminding voters how Obama’s policies have put us on the precipice and vastly worsened our economy, national security and standing in the world.
jrandolph1200
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:11pmI don’t even have to read the story to know its a lie. Anything other than they confess, and Holder steps down and is arrested, is a lie.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:19pmHolder and his boss
Report Post »garyM
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:10pmOur court system set a bad precedent when we let someone get away with a crime by saying, “it depends on what the definition of the word ”is”…is!
Report Post »ZeroOff4impact
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:09pmNo the order came from the DICK in the White House . Holder tried to make it work . Now they are just trying to make it go away . This is Horse poo…..!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:09pmIn this case the crime is as bad as the cover-up.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:09pmLet me explain. It’s called lying and trying to cover your butt.
Report Post »Hows that?
the wireworker
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 2:14pmbecause this administration lies about everything except where they are going on vacation
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:08pmAnyone else notice how much this Administration just LOVES LOVES!!! The Friday Dump Press Releases???
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:08pmPut holder in JAIL with all his cronies
Report Post »garyM
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:51pmOh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive!
Report Post »Alucard
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:48pmI’ve been writing to my congressman and Senators for months on this issue and I have not heard a word about this issue. Nothing will be done as long as this Administration is in power.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:14pmI think your right. The next president and congress could spend alot of time pursuing the truth and charging those involved with all the shenanigans that has gone on in the last few years.
Report Post »Be a darn shame if Holder was eventually put in with the general population of a prison somewhere. Wouldn’t it?………….
foxrocks
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:47pmHolder, Obama, anyone in the DOJ that knew about this and we lost a American agent, these guys are TRAITORS. responsible for killing our own man of honor and NO APOLOGY……………….POS both of em…………
Report Post »pamelakilgore
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:47pmI believe that this was an effort by the Obama adminstration to legislate a law to take away the second amendment. I guess their plan was to sell guns to straw buyers and armed the drug cartels,so the violence at the border would intensity .I guess their solution would be to close down guns sells. All under the diguise of keeping usa safe.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:58pmI agree .. but it backfired .. now if we could just find enough Republicans with “a pair” we could bring this regime down! TREASON!
TEA!
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:16pmThere are no republicans with a pair, well maybe 3, only 3 voted against legalizing bestiality in the military.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 6:35amCertainly it was. Remember Obumbler told Sarah Brady that he was going to get rid of our guns thru the back door?
But, now they can be charged with pejury as well as the straw purchases and the smuggling of weapons into Mexico. If our government won’t prosecute them, the Mexicans should. Let them spend a few years in a mexican jail
OMG
Report Post »foxrocks
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:45pmThey can’t explain it as Barry and Eric are in a major coverup…………they both need charges brought up against them, but nobody in our Congress and the Balls to do it except for Issa, Bohener won’t touch it…………he has to go once Barry is out, so dissapointed in him…….
Report Post »kcinco
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:43pmThese guys are slimy and disgust me. Get them out of our lives, please!!
Report Post »the58thstate
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:41pmthey better put on the heat now and start dismantling the prompters regime. get the corrupt commies out early.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:40pm“…both statements turned out to be incorrect”. THEY LIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to inform you Mother, that what you think I did was in fact a series of inaccurate information. I did NOT steal a cookie from the cookie jar. No, I can not account for the subsequent missing cookies, but I will personally launch an investigation into the matter. My friends and I will be ON THIS, rest assured Mom!
That Holder can even keep a straight face is a testimony to how effed up this current Administration is!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:46pmI agree .. they LIE and someone needs to go to prison .. probably more than one “someone” — follow this all the way up .. what did Obama know and when did he know it?
TEA!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:33pmDo not stop the investigation now.
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:30pmJUSTICE DEPT. TRIES TO EXPLAIN HOW IT GOT ITS STORY WRONG ON FAST & FURIOUS.
No…
JUSTICE DEPT. TRIES TO EXPLAIN WHY IT LUIED TO COVER UP ILLEGAL GUN SALES RESPONSIBLE OF THE MURDER OF A BORDER AGENT
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:31pmSorry….. Lied Luied
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:34pm‘s ok
Report Post »usernametaken
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:27pmHolder and Obama, partners in crime and traitors to America.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:48pmExactly
TEA!
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