ATF Director B. Todd Jones’ first appearance before Congress wasn’t a pleasant one.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that congressional members from both sides slammed Jones over the agency’s blunders in undercover storefront operations.
Some of the problems included using people with mental disabilities to promote undercover operations.
Jones defended the agency, saying it didn’t knowingly target people with mental disabilities.
“You don’t think that your agents, dealing with a man with an IQ in the 50s, knew he was mentally disabled?” asked U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich.), who used to teach children with disabilities, said people with low IQs are easy to recognize.
“Anyone with any life experience can ask simple questions,” he said. “I was surrounded by these kids. They are some of the best, nicest people who try their best and just want to please. I am appalled you would use these individuals like this and arrest them later.”
Responded Jones: “Hindsight is 20/20.”
