Pressing for Accountability, Answers about ATF Actions

I’m continuing to work to get straight answers and information from the federal government about a program called Operation Fast and Furious, which let guns fall into the hands of straw purchasers.  Two of the guns that were allowed to walk into the hands of straw buyers were found last December at the murder scene of a U.S. border patrol agent named Brian Terry.  Agent Terry was killed in a firefight with a group of five suspected illegal aliens along the southwestern border.  The operation of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was highly controversial and was sanctioned at some level by the U.S. Department of Justice.

I learned about the controversies, concerns and efforts to conceal what’s happened from courageous whistleblowers who came to me for help in establishing accountability for such an ill-conceived, even reckless, strategy.  Those seasoned ATF agents testified with me on Wednesday at a hearing of the oversight committee in the House of Representatives.  We were joined by members of Agent Terry's family.  My agenda is to get at the truth, to try to help Agent Terry’s family get answers and to hold accountable the leadership of the ATF and the Justice Department officials who are responsible for allowing this ill-advised policy to go forward.  The public has a right to know what happened, and with transparency comes accountability.

Friday, June 17, 2011