Conversation starters
Most popular
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.IG: ex-US Attorney retaliated in Fast and Furious
May 20, 2013 @ 2:55 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Attorney in Arizona violated Justice Department policy by providing Fox News with information apparently aimed at undercutting the credibility of a federal agent who helped reveal the botched arms-trafficking probe called Operation Fast and Furious, the Justice Department's inspector general said Monday.
There was substantial evidence in the 2011 incident that then-U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke's motive for disclosing a memo by federal agent John Dodson was retaliation, the inspector general's report said. In testimony to a House committee just two weeks earlier, Dodson had raised serious concerns about Operation Fast and Furious.
In Dodson's memo, which was eventually leaked, Dodson proposed a tactic similar to the one being used at the time in Operation Fast and Furious. Dodson proposed acting in an undercover capacity to deliver firearms to a suspected firearms trafficker, but taking no enforcement action upon delivering the firearms.
Dodson later told investigators that he and other ATF agents had proposed the transaction in hopes that it would shock their superiors into realizing what they were doing in Operation Fast and Furious. Instead, a superior approved Dodson's proposal and Dodson sold six firearms to the suspect. Dodson later told investigators that he regretted delivering the firearms.
The Fast and Furious operation used a tactic called gun-walking in an attempt to follow illicit gun buyers to major arms traffickers and dismantle the gun rings supplying weapons to drug cartels in Mexico. The tracking effort was largely unsuccessful and hundreds of weapons wound up at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico. Two of the weapons were found at the site of the slaying of U.S. border agent Brian Terry.
After Terry's death, Dodson and several other agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives described the gun-walking tactic to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
As the controversy grew, Burke and Justice Department officials exchanged emails about Dodson's earlier memo, the report said.
"Unbelievable," Burke said in one message. "This guy called Grassley and CBS to unearth what he in fact was proposing to do by himself. When you thought the hypocrisy of this whole matter had hit the limit already..."
The report noted that in a separate incident, Burke had told the deputy attorney general that he himself had improperly disclosed information to The New York Times about a criminal suspect in Operation Fast and Furious.
According to the IG, Burke knew at the time of his disclosure of the Dodson memorandum that he was under investigation by the department's Office of Professional Responsibility for that earlier leak.
The inspector general's office is referring its report to OPR to determine whether Burke's conduct violated rules in the states where Burke is licensed to practice law.
Burke told congressional investigators that at the time he provided the document, he believed the Fox News producer who received it had already seen it or obtained it and that the document had already been produced to Congress. Burke's attorney, Chuck Rosenberg, has said it was not Burke's intent to retaliate against Dodson or anyone else for information they provided to Congress.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
-
Nature's Reality Check
We can conquer terrorism, cure cancer, but a tornado can remind us of our insecurity -
Back to Work
Ten observations from practice that only a backup, middle child, left-handed QB can provide -
Going 'Bulworth'
When Obama is exasperated with the ways of Washington, he dreams of getting honest
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.
-
C"mon Man wrote...What about the EPA?July 18, 2011 11:39 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
HPD 5-0 wrote...If you hadn't heard...January 31, 2012 9:09 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
It's me! Ha ha! wrote...I think that the left is really reachingOctober 14, 2011 6:38 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
CH wrote...me! Ha ha! wrote...bush is no longer in office ( thank god)October 14, 2011 8:06 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
longwayhome wrote...The clownOctober 14, 2011 8:34 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
It's me! Ha ha! wrote...It is clear that you left wing parots have absolutely nothing to defend your Dear Leader with.October 14, 2011 8:54 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
longwayhome wrote...Last wordOctober 14, 2011 8:58 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
HPD 5-0 wrote...He's taking the 5thJanuary 21, 2012 2:09 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
HPD 5-0 wrote...HolderJanuary 29, 2012 8:00 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
Vlastimil wrote...Eric HolderJanuary 30, 2012 11:38 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
-
HPD 5-0 wrote...What? I AM SHOCKED...SHOCKED, I TELL YOU!!!January 31, 2012 9:09 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse