Congressional investigators back in Arizona for "Gunwalker"

[beevul]

Congressional investigators back in Arizona for "Gunwalker"

By Sharyl Attkisson



Congressional investigators are back on the ground in Phoenix this week for more interviews in the ATF "gunwalking" investigation. This time, sources tell CBS News, the investigators will be speaking with gun shop owners the ATF allegedly recruited to play a part in Operation Fast and Furious.

In that operation, insiders allege ATF allowed more than 2,500 assault rifles and other weapons to hit the streets or "walk." The idea was allegedly to monitor the purchases of gun buyers suspected of working with Mexican drug cartels, in hopes it would eventually provide intelligence to take down a cartel. But some of the weapons have been used in violent crimes, including the scene of the murder of border patrol agent Brian Terry last December.

The owners of Arizona gun shops "J&G Gun Sales" and "Lone Wolf" are said to be on the list of those to be questioned this week by representatives from Sen. Charles Grassley's (R-Iowa) office and Rep. Darrell Issa's (R-CA) office. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee also have representation on site.



http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20063373-10391695.html

More NRA/GOP shennannigans, no doubt. :eyes:

In a related story:

Major ATF Phoenix shake-up after "Gunwalker"

By Sharyl Attkisson


CBS News has learned that virtually all the top ATF managers in Phoenix involved in the controversial "Fast and Furious" operation have been reassigned and replaced. The shake-up comes in the wake of the gunwalking scandal in which ATF allegedly allowed more than 2500 weapons to hit the streets or "walk."


Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Bill Newell has been replaced by the former Detroit SAC Tom Brandon. Newell was reassigned to ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. shortly after CBS News interviewed an ATF agent-turned-whistleblower about the alleged gunwalking.


Two new Assistant Special Agents in Charge (ASACs) have also moved into the ATF Phoenix office: Joe Anarumo of Miami and Tom Atteberry of Kansas City. Sources say they replace the ASACs who oversaw Fast and Furious in Phoenix: George Gillett, who's being reassigned to Washington D.C. headquarters; and Jim Needles, who's been tasked to the Phoenix U.S. Attorney's office.


"This is unprecedented and welcome," says one insider, who describes the new Phoenix management as "the A-Team" and "respected."


Another move involves Agent David Voth, who directly supervised the Phoenix ATF "Group VII," that executed Fast and Furious. Sources say he's also been assigned to the U.S. Attorney's office along with Agent Hope McAllister. Sources say McAllister was the agent in charge of Fast and Furious. Replacing Voth as head of Group VII is Steve Barborini from Miami.



http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20063716-10391695.html

Interesting.

[X_Digger]

1. Ooh, that's damning

You don't wipe out that many middle managers unless you're trying to cover your ass.

Where's our resident BATFE apologist on this subject?

[rl6214]

4. I doubt you will be hearing from him

[friendly_iconoclast]

5. He rarely posts, and no longer discusses Operations Fast and Furious and Gunwalker.

In the words of another government PR flack, the statements defending the ATF in re those subjects are now "inoperative".

DUers of a certain age will remember the original use of that term by a certain Ronald Ziegler....

[pipoman]

2. Has there ever been an ATF agent dismissed?

It seems to me that the ATF has the same policy as the Catholic church. Screw something up (or someone) and get reassigned. I'm sure that the 'whistle blowers' will be dismissed, what about those responsible for this idiotic plan?

[beevul]

3. There is some discussion of those things and more...

There is some discussion of those things and more, on cleanupaft.org:




http://cleanupatf.org/forums/index.php?/topic/153-atf-operation-gunrunnerfast-furiousphoenix-division/page__pid__2301__st__-20#entry2301

http://cleanupatf.org/forums/index.php?/topic/81-grapevine