Posted on 12/26/2011 7:00:43 AM PST by marktwain
Kenneth Melson, then-head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives blasted subordinates in a deposition taken in July claiming they failed to inform him of a controversial gun-tracking program which may have led to the death of a Border Patrol agent.
Melson criticized his chief intelligence officer and subordinates for not advising him on details of the Fast and Furious program which allowed sales of guns to straw purchasers for Mexican drug cartels reports the Los Angeles Times which obtained the confidential deposition with congressional investigators.
Melson also claimed that after lawmakers learned about the program, Justice Department officials objected when he moved to disclose all information about the operation to Congress.
Melson says he was told that “it is a long-standing policy of the Department of Justice that we don't talk about ongoing cases.”
His replacement, Acting ATF Director B. Todd Jones, however fired back claiming that Melson did not properly supervise agents and allowed them to adopt controversial tactics in an interview with the newspaper.
"Anybody, including Mr. Melson, who waits for things to happen or waits for information to come to them, that is something I personally am not a believer in" said Jones according to the Times.
"I'm a believer in management by walking around. If you're not hearing it, you seek it out. And there are a lot of ways to do that other than sitting in your corner office waiting for memos to come in."
Melson was removed from the ATF in August and transferred within the Justice Department to the Office of Legal Policy where he is a senior advisor.
The botched gun-tracking operation has led to a firestorm of criticism for the DOJ centered on Attorney General Eric Holder and other top Justice officials. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) have led investigations and have called for those responsible for the program to be held accountable.
Some Republican lawmakers have called for Holder's resignation over claims that he misled the House Judiciary Committee about when he first learned about Fast and Furious.
Holder who launched an IG investigation has said that the program was "flawed in concept, as well as in execution... and it must never happen again." He has pledged to hold officials responsible. Holder says learned about the operation after news reports on whistleblowers concerned about the mission first surfaced.
"I'm beginning to believe that the author Mali is the "go-to guy" for whirling dervish type WH spin…The buck stops at the top, Holder must be held accountable for his charges…It really is that simple…"
Gunwalker ping.
Cover Your Ass time
The buck stops with the (no offense)...
janitor.
In his place I would have responded that there no longer is a “Fast and Furious” investigation I have ended it.
I would have gone on to say The investigation now is centered on the “Fast and Furious” investigation, how it got started and who is responsible for approving it.
Here are the next two headlines I want to see on this issue:
"Former Attorney General Eric Holder blamed aides for not informing him of Fast and Furious""Former President Barack Obama blamed aides for not informing him of Fast and Furious"
“Melson criticized his chief intelligence officer and subordinates for not advising him on details of the Fast and Furious program which allowed sales of guns to straw purchasers for Mexican drug cartels reports the Los Angeles Times which obtained the confidential deposition with congressional investigators.”
Pretty thin excuse. Kind of like my dog ate my homework.
I thought I’d read somewhere that Melson actually had live CCTV feeds in his office from some of the targeted gun stores during some of the buys. How ‘uninformed’ could he have been?!?!?
Those darn junior agents came up with an idea to sell thousands of rifles to Mexican drug lords and never informed their bosses. Bad middle managers. So who got fired???
Now, we’re getting down to brass tacks. Melson wants to cut someone else’s nuts off. One after another, those aides need to sit in front of the committee and tell us what happened.
A fish rots from the head down.
Ever notice how no appointed federal official has ever heard of the “Respondeat Superior” doctrine? I suppose it never would apply, given that no bureaucrat is ever held responsible for any bad policy, decision or mistake - no matter how egregious or costly.
Another day......
Ping
Chickensh1t CYA.
End of story.
"Former Attorney General Eric Holder blamed aides for not informing him of Fast and Furious"
Holder already used that excuse in his first testimony before the Congressional hearings.
Holder already used that excuse in his first testimony before the Congressional hearings.
Yes, but sadly he isn't "Former" Attorney General Holder yet.
Oops! I missed the money shot in that line. I’d like to see that too along with the words “detained at Gitmo.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.