House presses for Mexico gun sale data

Published: June 13, 2011 at 6:31 PM


WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- A House committee chairman Monday considered holding the U.S. Justice Department in contempt for refusing to hand over papers on gun sales to Mexican criminals.

Congressional investigators say Operation Fast and Furious let U.S. gun dealers sell in bulk to Mexicans, including drug gangsters, to track the arms.

Weapons from the sales were found at the scene of two attacks on U.S. agents, and Congress wants know if they were used to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata or Customs and Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking member on the Judiciary Committee charges the Justice Department with a coverup and is threatening to block President Obama's nominees.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., heard Monday from legal experts on whether it can hold the department in contempt, CBS reported. Democrats defended the government position.

Zapata, sent to Mexico a consultant to the Mexican military, was killed Feb. 15. Terry was killed on the border in Arizona in December.

Issa's committee will hear from Terry's family Wednesday.

Attorney General Eric Holder has said his inspector general is investigating the gun program.

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