The controversy over ATF programs designed to stop the flow of guns into Mexico isn’t going away. Some guns have been used in serious crimes.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has fired off a letter to Ken Melson, head of ATF, accusing the agency of failing to cooperate with a Congressional inquiry into the matter. Issa has directed ATF to provide documents and information to Congress by month’s end. The letter was posted on the CBS news website.
The letter referenced two ATF operations — Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious — which allowed gun traffickers to buy guns and subsequently sell them, all with hopes of tracking them to the drug cartels in Mexico. But investigations have found the guns have been used in crimes including in the deaths of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in Arizona in December and ICE Agent Jaime Zapata in Mexico in February
“Recent media reports have raised grave questions about your department’s handling of operations involving gun trafficking in Mexico,” the March 16 letter says.
“In the aftermath of the tragic killing of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jamie Zapata, it is imperative that you act decisively to assuage the public’s deep suspicions that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has a policy permitting – and even encouraging – the movement of guns into Mexico by straw purchasers.”
“It has been brought to my attention that you are not cooperating with the congressional inquiries into Project Gun Runner and Operation Fast and Furious,” Issa wrote.
The Mexican government is also investigated the matter.
ATF did not immediately respond for comment on Friday morning.
LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH REP. ISSA
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrBbt6yxvFE
