Thread: OPERATION GUNWALKER & Fast and Furious Information Collection Information News

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... r-scandal/

Lawmakers Claim Justice Inspector Obstructed Probe Into Fast and Furious

By William Lajeunesse

Published September 21, 2011

FULL VIDEO ON LINK AT THE TOP OF PAGE.

The inspector general of the Department of Justice undermined and obstructed a congressional investigation by releasing secret tape recordings that corroborate allegations of misconduct in "Operation Fast and Furious," according to a letter written by Rep. Darrell Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley.

The two lawmakers leading the probe into the Obama administration scandal claim Justice Inspector General Cynthia Schnedar compromised their investigators' ability to get to the truth and potentially prosecute those responsible for selling thousands of weapons to the Mexican drug cartels.


Extended Interview with Fast and Furious Whistleblower
VIDEO ON LINK AT THE TOP.

Exclusive: ATF agent Larry Alt talks to Fox News
Related Stories
ATF Official Admits His 'Fast and Furious' Testimony 'Lacked Clarity'
Schnedar failed to even listen to the recordings before handing them over to the actual targets of the investigation, the letter alleges.

"Each of these disclosures undermines our ability to assess the candor of witnesses in our investigation and thus obstructs it," they wrote in a letter dated Tuesday. "Moreover, your decision to immediately disclose the recordings to those you are investigating creates at least the appearance, if not more, that your inquiry is not sufficiently objective and independent.

"It appears that you did not consider the significant harm that providing these recordings to the very individuals under investigation could cause to either our inquiry or your own. You did not consult with us about the recordings even though the congressional inquiry and reactions to it are discussed at length."

The OIG argues that under discovery rules it is required to turn the tapes over to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The tapes Issa and Grassley refer to were recorded by Andre Howard, owner of the Lone Wolf Trading Co., after he suspected the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was lying to him about the guns they recruited him to sell to buyers of the Sinaloa Cartel.

On two occasions Howard taped Hope MacAllister, the lead agent in the Fast and Furious case.

Dallas lawyer Larry Gaydos, who represents the Lone Wolf Trading Co., claims Howard was trying to get MacAllister to implicate herself and the ATF in the illegal gun-running scheme.

"He became very suspicious and in his own defense would tape key conversations with Ms. MacAllister and try to get her to make admissions about the truth of the matter," said Dallas attorney Larry Gaydos. "Andre was trying to get her to admit that indeed they let guns go to Mexico."

Howard has become a key witness in the congressional investigation of the Department of Justice and its alleged cover up of Operation Fast and Furious. The Justice Department has repeatedly said it did not allow guns -- purchased under its direction and authority -- to reach Mexico.

The facts in the case suggest otherwise, but the agency continues to deny it and refuses to turn over pertinent documents to Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Andre was acting under the direct supervision of the Department of Justice and ATF. And he thought he was making a difference and that these people were being arrested and there were going to be indictments and that there were going to be prosecutions," Gaydos told Fox News exclusively on Tuesday.

"He is appalled at the position being taken by the Department of Justice and the lack of candor and the lack of cooperation with Congress. He wants the truth to come out for the American people and the Terry Family."

Howard is not alone in his regret. Speaking in reaction to the tapes Tuesday was ATF agent and whistleblower Larry Alt, who has never spoken publicly about his opposition to the case and the retaliation he has suffered as a result of it.

"Agent Terry's death brought just a tremendous amount of, I guess, regret and sorrow, disappointment, disgust to myself, to other members of the group. I can't express enough--I've never had an opportunity to publicly express condolences to the Terry family," Alt told Fox News. "I'm almost speechless when it comes to that."

Alt stepped forward after hearing MacAllister disparage his wife and family on the tapes. He felt it was necessary to defend them, and his own reputation. A decorated soldier and police officer, an instructor at the ATF academy, Alt says he and fellow whistleblower John Dodson were transferred to dead-end jobs after standing up to Agent-in-Charge Bill Newell. The ATF in Phoenix and U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona then attempted to conceal the role they played in directing area gun dealers to sell weapons to buyers the agency knew were breaking the law.

"We were transferred from the group. We were placed in positions away from the investigation itself, denied access to the investigation," said Alt. "I would view that as a measure of control and if you want to call it a cover up, that would be an accurate statement."

Howard made the tapes in March 2011 after a meeting he and his attorneys held with federal officials. In that meeting, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory Hurley continued to insist the guns Lone Wolf sold were stopped and seized before reaching Mexico.

But ATF officials are quoted in a Washington Post article and the Spanish language daily La Opinion saying just the opposite -- blaming Lone Wolf for "selling guns to the cartels" with no mention that Howard was operating under the federal government's direction, encouragement and approval.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1YpIXNTLD

Sep 24, 2011

LaPierre to CPAC -Fast and Furious a cover up
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-2 ... ontentBody

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1269130.html#1269130

Originally Posted by Newmexican

Sep 24, 2011

LaPierre to CPAC -Fast and Furious a cover up
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-2 ... ontentBody

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1269130.html#1269130

I was blown away to find out last night at a dinner party that one of my supposedly intelligent and informed friends knew NOTHING of the Fast and Furious scandal!! One can only assume that the MSM, where most people are getting their news is doing a very poor job of keeping the public informed. Surprise, surprise!

was blown away to find out last night at a dinner party that one of my supposedly intelligent and informed friends knew NOTHING of the Fast and Furious scandal!! One can only assume that the MSM, where most people are getting their news is doing a very poor job of keeping the public informed. Surprise, surprise!

Informed you say????? Really???? Informed ????? NOT!!!!! I kind of think their brainwashed!!!! I personally feel they are either too lazy or too dumb to see what is in front of there faces, and they must all be in the camp of the "Don't worry be happy, all drinking from the same koolaid troth".

Nothing amazes me anymore. I have run into many like that, some are finally listening and others are still hopeless, I just try and steer clear of the hopeless, you can bring a horse to water but you can't make em' drink. Just wait till they finally wake up I will rain many epitaphs down on their head at that time!!!!

Originally Posted by kathyet

was blown away to find out last night at a dinner party that one of my supposedly intelligent and informed friends knew NOTHING of the Fast and Furious scandal!! One can only assume that the MSM, where most people are getting their news is doing a very poor job of keeping the public informed. Surprise, surprise!

Informed you say????? Really???? Informed ????? NOT!!!!! I kind of think their brainwashed!!!! I personally feel they are either too lazy or too dumb to see what is in front of there faces, and they must all be in the camp of the "Don't worry be happy, all drinking from the same koolaid troth".

Nothing amazes me anymore. I have run into many like that, some are finally listening and others are still hopeless, I just try and steer clear of the hopeless, you can bring a horse to water but you can't make em' drink. Just wait till they finally wake up I will rain many epitaphs down on their head at that time!!!!

Epitaphs? Why wait? Let's start the list now:

- dummy
- idiot
- fool
- ostrich
- lefty
- socialist
- dumba$$
- stupid

Ok, enough for today.

Originally Posted by TexasBorn

Originally Posted by kathyet

was blown away to find out last night at a dinner party that one of my supposedly intelligent and informed friends knew NOTHING of the Fast and Furious scandal!! One can only assume that the MSM, where most people are getting their news is doing a very poor job of keeping the public informed. Surprise, surprise!

Informed you say????? Really???? Informed ????? NOT!!!!! I kind of think their brainwashed!!!! I personally feel they are either too lazy or too dumb to see what is in front of there faces, and they must all be in the camp of the "Don't worry be happy, all drinking from the same koolaid troth".

Nothing amazes me anymore. I have run into many like that, some are finally listening and others are still hopeless, I just try and steer clear of the hopeless, you can bring a horse to water but you can't make em' drink. Just wait till they finally wake up I will rain many epitaphs down on their head at that time!!!!

Epitaphs? Why wait? Let's start the list now:

- dummy
- idiot
- fool
- ostrich
- lefty
- socialist
- dumba$$
- stupid

Ok, enough for today.

LOL I have a few others that would get me banned!!!! But oh they are on the tip of my tonque as I write.

Added by working4change:

Mon Sep 26, 2011
Letter implicates ATF in committing straw purchases for Gunwalker

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-n ... -gunwalker

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-250911-.html

U.S. Government Used Taxpayer Funds to Buy, Sell Weapons During 'Fast and Furious,' Documents Show

By William Lajeunesse

Published September 26, 2011

| FoxNews.com

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1Z5LuR2dH

Not only did U.S. officials approve, allow and assist in the sale of more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa cartel -- the federal government used taxpayer money to buy semi-automatic weapons, sold them to criminals and then watched as the guns disappeared.

This disclosure, revealed in documents obtained by Fox News, could undermine the Department of Justice's previous defense that Operation Fast and Furious was a "botched" operation where agents simply "lost track" of weapons as they were transferred from one illegal buyer to another. Instead, it heightens the culpability of the federal government as Mexico, according to sources, has opened two criminal investigations into the operation that flooded their country with illegal weapons.
Related Interactive

Documents Detail ATF Involvement in 'Fast and Furious'

The following documents detail the role the ATF played in buying and selling weapons as part of its controversial "Fast and Furious" operation.

Operation Fast and Furious began in October 2009. In it, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives encouraged gun stores to sell weapons to an arms smuggling gang, then watched as the guns crossed the border and were used in crimes. Each month, the agency allowed hundreds of guns to go South, despite opposition from some agents.

All told, the gang spent more than $1.25 million for the illegal guns.

In June 2010, however, the ATF dramatically upped the ante, making the U.S. government the actual "seller" of guns.

According to documents obtained by Fox News, Agent John Dodson was ordered to buy six semi-automatic Draco pistols -- two of those were purchased at the Lone Wolf gun store in Peoria, Ariz. An unusual sale, Dodson was sent to the store with a letter of approval from David Voth, an ATF group supervisor.

Dodson then sold the weapons to known illegal buyers, while fellow agents watched from their cars nearby.

This was not a "buy-bust" or a sting operation, where police sell to a buyer and then arrest them immediately afterward. In this case, agents were "ordered" to let the sale go through and follow the weapons to a stash house.

According to sources directly involved in the case, Dodson felt strongly that the weapons should not be abandoned and the stash house should remain under 24-hour surveillance. However, Voth disagreed and ordered the surveillance team to return to the office. Dodson refused, and for six days in the desert heat kept the house under watch, defying direct orders from Voth.

A week later, a second vehicle showed up to transfer the weapons. Dodson called for an interdiction team to move in, make the arrest and seize the weapons. Voth refused and the guns disappeared with no surveillance.

According to a story posted Sunday on a website dedicated to covering Fast and Furious, Voth gave Dodson the assignment to "dirty him up," since Dodson had become the most vocal critic of the operation.

"I think Dodson demanded the letter from Voth to cover both himself and the FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee). He didn't want to be hung out to dry by Voth," a source told the website "Sipsey Street Irregulars."

Subsequent to this undercover operation, sources told Sipsey, "Dodson just about came apart all over them (his supervisors). In a 'screaming match' that was heard throughout the Phoenix office by many employees, Dodson yelled at Voth and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett, 'Why not just go direct and empty out the (ATF) arms room?" (to the cartels), or words to that effect.'

After the confrontation, ATF managers transferred Dodson to a more menial job. Months later, after the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, Dodson blew the whistle and went public about the federal government's gunrunning operation.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1Z5M2j0y9

Originally Posted by florgal

U.S. Government Used Taxpayer Funds to Buy, Sell Weapons During 'Fast and Furious,' Documents Show

By William Lajeunesse

Published September 26, 2011

| FoxNews.com

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1Z5LuR2dH

Not only did U.S. officials approve, allow and assist in the sale of more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa cartel -- the federal government used taxpayer money to buy semi-automatic weapons, sold them to criminals and then watched as the guns disappeared.

This disclosure, revealed in documents obtained by Fox News, could undermine the Department of Justice's previous defense that Operation Fast and Furious was a "botched" operation where agents simply "lost track" of weapons as they were transferred from one illegal buyer to another. Instead, it heightens the culpability of the federal government as Mexico, according to sources, has opened two criminal investigations into the operation that flooded their country with illegal weapons.
Related Interactive

Documents Detail ATF Involvement in 'Fast and Furious'

The following documents detail the role the ATF played in buying and selling weapons as part of its controversial "Fast and Furious" operation.

Operation Fast and Furious began in October 2009. In it, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives encouraged gun stores to sell weapons to an arms smuggling gang, then watched as the guns crossed the border and were used in crimes. Each month, the agency allowed hundreds of guns to go South, despite opposition from some agents.

All told, the gang spent more than $1.25 million for the illegal guns.

In June 2010, however, the ATF dramatically upped the ante, making the U.S. government the actual "seller" of guns.

According to documents obtained by Fox News, Agent John Dodson was ordered to buy six semi-automatic Draco pistols -- two of those were purchased at the Lone Wolf gun store in Peoria, Ariz. An unusual sale, Dodson was sent to the store with a letter of approval from David Voth, an ATF group supervisor.

Dodson then sold the weapons to known illegal buyers, while fellow agents watched from their cars nearby.

This was not a "buy-bust" or a sting operation, where police sell to a buyer and then arrest them immediately afterward. In this case, agents were "ordered" to let the sale go through and follow the weapons to a stash house.

According to sources directly involved in the case, Dodson felt strongly that the weapons should not be abandoned and the stash house should remain under 24-hour surveillance. However, Voth disagreed and ordered the surveillance team to return to the office. Dodson refused, and for six days in the desert heat kept the house under watch, defying direct orders from Voth.

A week later, a second vehicle showed up to transfer the weapons. Dodson called for an interdiction team to move in, make the arrest and seize the weapons. Voth refused and the guns disappeared with no surveillance.

According to a story posted Sunday on a website dedicated to covering Fast and Furious, Voth gave Dodson the assignment to "dirty him up," since Dodson had become the most vocal critic of the operation.

"I think Dodson demanded the letter from Voth to cover both himself and the FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee). He didn't want to be hung out to dry by Voth," a source told the website "Sipsey Street Irregulars."

Subsequent to this undercover operation, sources told Sipsey, "Dodson just about came apart all over them (his supervisors). In a 'screaming match' that was heard throughout the Phoenix office by many employees, Dodson yelled at Voth and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett, 'Why not just go direct and empty out the (ATF) arms room?" (to the cartels), or words to that effect.'

After the confrontation, ATF managers transferred Dodson to a more menial job. Months later, after the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, Dodson blew the whistle and went public about the federal government's gunrunning operation.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1Z5M2j0y9

Florga, some interesting points here. Many of us assumed that the guns were paid for by the gun store owner and were thus the property of the gun store. However, if the government used taxpayer money to buy these weapons and then subsequently place them in the store and allow the sale to suspicious individuals, the playing field changes. The store was just a front for the guns and the owner would have had no financial interest. The store owner was in essence forced to allow his store to be used as the transit point for taxpayer funded weapons bound for illegal cartel use. This whole story is getting dirtier by the day. Holder and his scum are dirtier than a pig in s#!t

Sep 27, 2011
More Fast and Furious hearings could come as early as next month
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/local_new ... next-month

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1270349.html#1270349

Sep 27, 2011
ATF Chief Counsel’s office warned management of Gun Rights Examiner column
http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-n ... rights-exa

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1270355.html#1270355

Sep 28, 2011
Gunrunner: Cash For Cartels
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysi ... 586209&p=1


http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1270707.html#1270707