This thing is really disgusting.
“Could he have worn a wire?”
He seems to have figured out early on that he was the designated fall guy.
OH please I hope he was wired to the hilt, phones, house, person. AND office.
You have made a very interesting observation. Clearly, Melson did not decide to cooperate without considerable negotiation. During the period of negotiation, and afterword, he would have been smart to gather as much ammunition in tapes, emails, and written communication as possible. It is all bargaining chips now. He is trying to hold on to his pension and to stay out of jail.
Anyone above Melson, or in another agency that worked with him, has to be wondering just how much has gotten out at this point.
A big question is: Did Melson inform Issa of the Tampa ATF office gunwalking? If he did not, he can be subject to prosecution for that, if it is shown that he knew of it.