By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com
WASHINGTON — Some ATF agents are concerned about a recent memo from the Justice Department that tries to correct the beefing going on between the FBI and ATF over turf, the Washington Post reported.
Acting Deputy Attorney Gen. Gary G. Grindler issued a memo earlier this month saying it was “critically important” for the two agencies to share information so key intelligence isn’t lost, the Post reported. He also said that the FBI should be the lead agency on terrorism related explosive cases and ATF should do the rest.
“It’s very disheartening,” one ATF agent, who was not authorized to speak publicly about internal matters, told the Post. “They won’t hesitate to throw that memo in our face.”
The Post reported that other agents fear there will be “further delays as the FBI decides whether bombings are terrorism-related – and then hands over some cases weeks later to ATF agents who must retrace the FBI’s steps. The agencies use different techniques to investigate bombings.
“Everyone will have to wait for the FBI to make a decision,” ATF agent told the Post. “This gives one agency – the FBI – the ability to control everything.”
The Post reported that FBI associate deputy director T.J. Harrington praised Grindler’s “leadership” and said “both the FBI and ATF are committed to providing their very best in service to the American public. The Deputy Attorney General recognized the unique strengths of our two organizations, and he has reaffirmed our common commitment and goal of ‘One-Team One-Fight’ – keeping the country safe.”
