Posted on 07/22/2011 7:39:00 AM PDT by marktwain
On March 3, when CBS Evening News investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson asked Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) Special Agent John Dodson in an on-camera interview if he had been "intentionally letting guns go to Mexico," he answered, "Yes ma'am. I mean the agency was." That began the interview in which Dodson became the first BATFE whistleblower to publicly come forward to bring this scandal into the light.
Doing so required a great deal of courage. Whistleblowers face harsh treatment, and the BATFE has a long, rich history of especially harsh treatment of those who would dare make that agency accountable to the public it ostensibly exists to serve. Dodson could not have been unaware of the risks he was taking, but his conscience demanded those risks.
Now, National Public Radio reports that he may be paying the price:
The Justice Department's Inspector General has opened an investigation into possible retaliation against a whistle-blowing agent at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, according to two people briefed on the inquiry.
Watchdogs are examining whether anyone at the Justice Department improperly released internal correspondence to try to smear ATF agent John Dodson, who told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last month that he repeatedly warned supervisors about what he called a reckless law enforcement operation known as "Fast and Furious."
Allegedly, according to Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Department of "Justice" officials "leaked Privacy Act protected documents to the press in an effort to discredit Mr. Dodson with half-truths even though those documents had been withheld from Congress. It's a very serious matter that should be thoroughly investigated."
This gambit is not unexpected. National Gun Rights Examiner David Codrea, in fact, warned about this possibility way back in January, quoting private correspondence:
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Gunwalker ping.
Does a bear sh*t in the woods? is helen reddy? is rich little?
Fox has a report on now. Calling the upcomimg hearings round 2.
Issa says the stated goal was NEVER genuine. Says there has definitely been obstruction.
Clearly political decisions by political appointees.
Surely at least one of them will see that their silence about this gunrunner scandal just to protect Obama and the democrats is wrong.
Surely ...
The list, ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
http://www.nachumlist.com/gunrunner.htm
Yes if you blow the whistle you better have already made other career plans.
ATF Whistleblower Speaks OutJun 30, 2011 - 6:15 - Vince Cefalu, who's being pushed out by the agency, discusses the botched gun operation
Fox News interview with senior agent Vince Cefalu. He says he has been terminated "along with dozens of others" (agents) due to their opposition to operation Fast and Furious. Says DoJ was intimately involved.
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Gunwalker: Smoking Gun Email?An internal ATF email seems to support the assertion that Fast and Furious was a PR stunt for gun control.
PJM’s Bob Owens has long speculated that the primary reason for Operation Fast and Furious was to perpetuate the lie that 90 percent of illegal firearms in Mexico were from the United States.
Owens’ assertion was buoyed on Wednesday by internal ATF emails obtained by Townhall.com. One email reads:
"Can you see if these guns were all purchased from the same FfL and at one time. We are looking at anecdotal cases to support a demand letter on long gun multiple sales. Thanks Mark R. Chait Assistant Director Field Operations."
Thanks marktwain.
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