Sen. Grassley probes border agent slaying

Seeks answers about firearms smugglers were allowed to buy

By Jerry Seper
The Washington Times
8:02 p.m., Monday, February 14, 2011


U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian A. Terry was fatally shot north of the Arizona-Mexico border while trying to catch bandits who target illegal immigrants. (Associated Press)

The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee wants Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to explain why Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents allowed suspected gun smugglers to purchase and keep assault rifles that later may have been used in the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

In a letter, Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa said ATF agents told his staff the agency allowed the sale to “known and suspected straw purchasers for an illegal trafficking ring near the Southwest borderâ€