By Allan Lengelticklethewire.com
Kenneth Melson, acting head of ATF, is expected to resign under pressure in coming days, CNN reported.
At the same time, Andrew Traver, head of the Chicago ATF, who has been nominated by the White House to take over on a permanent basis, is set to meet Tuesday with Attorney Gen. Eric Holder Jr. to talk about possibly stepping in as acting director pending the outcome of his confirmation process , according to media reports. The Wall Street Journal had reported in recent days that the White House was expected to remove Melson.
The anticpacted resignation comes in the midst of what has turned into an ugly controversy over Operation Fast and Furious, the program that encouraged gun dealers to sell to straw purchasers, all the with the hopes of tracing the weapons to the Mexican cartesl. Guns from the program have been linked to the death of border patrol agent Brian Terry.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who has led the charge, along with Sen. Chuck Grassleyd (R-Ia.), against the program, said at a hearing last week that Melson was “deep in the weeds” with the program and was regularly monitoring it.
