DOJ head knew of ATF "gunwalking" in April 2010 [CBS]

CBS News ^ | October 31, 2011 | Sharyl ttkisson

[brityank]

DOJ head knew of ATF "gunwalking" in April 2010

Sharyl Attkisson

WASHINGTON - There is new information about how much the Department of Justice new about the controversial ATF tactic of letting guns "walk" into the hands of criminals.

Gunwalking is a controversial investigative tactic in which police allow suspects to traffic guns without stopping them in order to see where they end up. Documents just released this afternoon show the head of the Justice Department's criminal division, Lanny A. Breuer, learned about the tactic of ATF gunwalking as early as April of last year.

In a memo, Brueuer's deputy wrote him that, in a case called "Wide Receiver" started under the Bush Administration, "ATF let a bunch of guns walk" in an effort to catch the big fish of Mexican drug cartels and said the gunwalking case could be "embarrassing" to ATF.

Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he "regrets" that he didn't alert others in Justice Department leadership, apparently including his boss Attorney General Eric Holder.

In a separate ATF case reported by CBS News earlier this year, called "Fast and Furious" and started under the Obama Administration, Breuer says he likewise regrets not alerting leaders about the similarities in the cases. That, said Breuer, was a mistake.

Republican Congressional investigators say this new information contradicts the Justice Department's original letter to them earlier this year insisting that gunwalking allegations were "false."

More Fast and Furious coverage:

Eric Holder to testify on Fast and Furious
Memos contradict Holder on Fast and Furious
Agent: I was ordered to let guns "walk" into Mexico
Gunwalking scandal uncovered at ATF

[brityank]

Scott Pelley runs a spot with Sharyl - video at ATF "Gunwalking"

[brityank]

Lanny Breuer resurfaces. Will he be the designated fall guy?

[musicman]

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[Paladin2]

"Mr. Breuer regularly testifies before Congress on the Administration’s policy initiatives and advises the Attorney General and the White House on matters of criminal law. For his work as Assistant Attorney General, the National Law Journal recently named Mr. Breuer a "Visionary" in the Washington, D.C. legal community, and he was recently ranked eighth on Ethisphere’s list of The 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics."

-doj website

Sounds like a regular genius.

[ptsal]

Dear Mr. Breuer,

Lompoc has a wonderful climate for contemplating the error of your ways....cold as Hell....

Of course, Hell is not particularly cold so the heat Mr. Breuer feels will be his conscience, if he has one....

[Lurker]

Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he "regrets" that he didn't alert others in Justice Department leadership

Mr. Breuer needs to be the recipient of a Congressional subpeona tomorrow morning along with every scrap of correspondence written or electronic he's ever issued on the subject.

L

[VikingMom]

Yep - that’s what it sound like...wonder what Holder has on him?

If he would just pull a John Dean and start talking, Issa would give him full immunity but I suspect the “Chicago Way” has made him an offer he can’t refuse!

[reefdiver]

I wonder if the “Visionary” can see the train coming down the track?

[Paladin2]

It doesn’t note whether the influence is positive or negative.

[brityank]

...wonder what Holder has on him?

Fort Marcy Park?

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[TigersEye]

Bingo!

[MestaMachine]

Forgive me if anyone was double pinged here.
Ping anyway!

[cpdiii]

Breuer wants us to believe the Phoenix office started the Fast and Furious operation and had him in the information loop. He wants us to believe that the first two things he did not do is call Phoenix and say, “What the hell are you stupid sons of bit-—s doing in Arizona. He also wants us to believe that he did not call his boss, Eric holder the Attorney General of the USA, and say, Those dumb Bast-—s in Phoenix are letting guns go to Mexico and we now do not know where over 1000 weapons are. Do you want me to fire them and prosecute them or just fire them?”

Breuer is the designated fall guy. The real question is what was he promised to take the fall?

[okie01]

Breuer wants us to believe the Phoenix office started the Fast and Furious operation and had him in the information loop.

If the Phoenix office mounted Fast & Furious on their own, perhaps Breuer can explain how the Phoenix office managed to get the funding for the operation slipped into the Stimulus Bill (Porkulus).

Wouldn't a funding bill normally involve the upper level of the DOJ?

[RetiredTexasVet]

What the Democrats are counting on are that they can delay long enough for the statute of limitations, the Food Stamp Presidents re-election and continuation of the same, and the fact that Eric “the bigot” Holder is the AG and thus no prosecution will result even for the fall guys.

[cpdiii]

If the Phoenix office mounted Fast & Furious on their own, perhaps Breuer can explain how the Phoenix office managed to get the funding for the operation slipped into the Stimulus Bill (Porkulus). Wouldn't a funding bill normally involve the upper level of the DOJ?

Bingo, you are correct.

[VikingMom]

“Breuer is the designated fall guy. The real question is what was he promised to take the fall?”

Was he promised something or threatened? Or both?

[PGalt]

BUMP!

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

BTTT