Issa: Emails Prove Holder Told About Fast And Furious

Thursday, 06 Oct 2011 01:27 PM
By Martin Gould

President Barack Obama threw his full weight behind Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday despite growing evidence that Holder was clearly told about the Fast and Furious Mexican gunrunning scheme nine months before he will admit.

Obama’s backing came just hours after the two Republicans leading the probe into the scandal, Californian Rep. Darrell Issa, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, released a set of five emails that reveal that Michael Walther, the director of the National Drug Intelligence Center, had told Holder of the scheme last summer.

In the memos, the first of which was sent on July 5, Walther clearly pointed out that his agents in Arizona were supporting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Operation Fast and Furious.

“This investigation, initiated in September … involves a Phoenix-based firearms trafficking ring headed by Manuel Celis-Acosta,â€