By JOSH GERSTEIN Politico WASHINGTON — Dennis Burke, one of Arizona’s most prominent and well-connected Democratic political figures, abruptly resigned as the state’s top federal prosecutor Tuesday, stirring doubts about earlier expectations that he might mount a bid for governor, attorney general or U.S. senator. Burke served in Washington as a senior adviser to Homeland…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The new acting director of ATF, B. Todd Jones, is no stranger to federal law enforcement. In fact Jones is on his second go around as U.S. Attorney in Minnesota. Jones, who will remain the U.S. Attorney in Minnesota while serving as acting head of ATF, was first appointed to the…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com More damaging news about ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious. The Los Angeles Times reports that weapons from the troubled operation have surfaced at at least 11 violent crime scenes, and the one in which Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was killed last year. The Times reported that the Justice Department made…
By Kevin Johnson USA TODAY When Uriel Patino walked into a Glendale, Ariz., gun store last August and placed an order for 20 handguns, federal gun agents already knew the 25-year-old man as the most prolific figure in a trafficking ring that was supplying hundreds of guns to Mexico’s brutal Sinoloa drug cartel, according to…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com A former ATF agent, who is awaiting sentencing on corruption charges, testified Thursday in a federal corruption trial that he stole drugs and money from crime scenes with several Tulsa police officers, the Tulsa World reported. Brandon McFadden, 34, testified as a government witness about his criminal activity along with Officers…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Ken Melson, the acting director of ATF, who seemed like a goner last month, is now acting as if he might be around for a while. In fact, Melson is making an effort to show more leadership by communicating more with the troops. Last week, he conducted a town hall meeting…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com ATF is upping its game in the technology world. The agency announced Wednesday the release of Apps for Android and Windows Phone 7 devices, and an updated application for Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices. “With the latest release of the iOS ATF app, developed in cooperation with NIC Inc., users…
