Issa: Obama admin intimidating witnesses in ATF gun probe

Washington Times ^ | July 26, 2011 | By Stephen Dinan and Chuck Neubauer

[Mozilla]

The Obama administration sought to intimidate witnesses into not testifying to Congress on Tuesday about whether ATF knowingly allowed weapons, including assault rifles, to be “walked” into Mexico, the chairman of a House committee investigating the program said in an interview Monday.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell E. Issa, California Republican, said at least two scheduled witnesses expected to be asked about a controversial weapons investigation known as “Fast and Furious”received warning letters from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to limit their testimony.

Mr. Issa's committee is set to hear testimony from six current or former ATF employees, including agents and attaches assigned to the bureau’s offices in Mexico, about the operation — in which, federal agents say, they were told to stand down and watch as guns flowed from U.S. dealers in Arizona to violent criminals and drug cartels in Mexico.

Among other questions, the agents are likely to be asked about a large volume of guns showing up in Mexico that were traced back to the Fast and Furious program; whether ATF officials in that country expressed concerns about the weapons to agency officials in the U.S., only to be brushed aside; and whether ATF officials in Arizona denied ATF personnel in Mexico access to information about the operation.

Nearly 50 weapons linked to the Fast and Furious program have been recovered to date in Mexico.

[mcshot]

...”Is BHO dba POTUS arming a civilian defence force (CDF) like he promised to do in his campaign?”...

I would say yes and offer the SWAT teams of DHS, TSA, IRS, local law enforcement departments in addition to the Secret Service and alphabet agencies. All off the radar. I have no documents to verify inter city hiring and in country training centers but throw it out in case others do. We have no shortage of goon squads.

[liberalh8ter]

As far as I'm concerned, what happened at WACO was well documented in “Rules of Engagement” and if you aren't already aware of what a total piece of excrement Chuck Schumer is, this film puts that in perspective, as well.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“NO one, NO ONE above his level knew anything of guns being “walked” across the border”

But, but Holder said they were in 2009. Am I missing something or did Newell just get his pension?

By the way, be careful what you ash for. Newell’s replacement is a Chicago gun grabbing thug.

[TauntedTiger]

“All off the radar.”

I agree, xyz SWAT teams conduct activities and are postured like a standing army.

In any case, as far as I know, Obama has never been asked to give the American public an update on the status of his Civilian Defense Force plan.

[bdfromlv]

Do you mean illegal like Voter Intimidation? s

[bdfromlv]

Do you mean illegal like Voter Intimidation? s

[cookcounty]

"The reason Obama keeps the debt ceiling negotiations in turmoil is to take the focus off Issa’s investigation."

Very interesting thought.

[gargoyle]

...Spin, twist, distract, they’re all standard operation procedure...

[jellybean]

Think about it. Obama didn't seem that interested in dealing with the debt crisis until after Kenneth Melson's secret testimony July 4^th. Also, when is the last time he's spent more than 1 or 2 days in Washington? His purpose is to manipulate the media and keep their focus off Issa's investigation.

[jellybean]

...Spin, twist, distract, they’re all standard operation procedure...

Exactly! He's manipulating the media by causing as much chaos as possible. If he can keep them distracted with the debt ceiling long enough, maybe the Issa investigation will wind down without the media ever reporting it.