Late Friday, the White House turned over new documents in the Congressional investigation into the ATF "Fast and Furious" gunwalking scandal.
The documents show extensive communications between then-ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix office Bill Newell - who led Fast and Furious - and then-White House National Security Staffer Kevin O'Reilly. Emails indicate the two also spoke on the phone. Such detailed, direct communications between a local ATF manager in Phoenix and a White House national security staffer has raised interest among Congressional investigators looking into Fast and Furious. Newell has said he and O'Reilly are long time friends. (Emphasis supplied, MBV.)
ATF agents say that in Fast and Furious, their agency allowed thousands of assault rifles and other weapons to be sold to suspected traffickers for Mexican drug cartels. At least two of the guns turned up at the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry last December.
The email exchanges span a little over a month last summer. They discuss ATF's gun trafficking efforts along the border including the controversial Fast and Furious case, though not by name. The emails to and from O'Reilly indicate more than just a passing interest in the Phoenix office's gun trafficking cases. They do not mention specific tactics such as "letting guns walk."
A lawyer for the White House wrote Congressional investigators: "none of the communications between ATF and the White House revealed the investigative law enforcement tactics at issue in your inquiry, let alone any decision to allow guns to 'walk.'"
Among the documents produced: an email in which ATF's Newell sent the White House's O'Reilly an "arrow chart reflecting the ultimate destination of firearms we intercepted and/or where the guns ended up." The chart shows arrows leading from Arizona to destinations all over Mexico.
In response, O'Reilly wrote on Sept. 3, 2010 "The arrow chart is really interesting - and - no surprise - implies at least that different (Drug Trafficking Organizations) in Mexico have very different and geographically distinct networks in the US for acquiring guns. Did last year's TX effort develop a similar graphic?" (Emphasis supplied, MBV.)
"Last year's Texas effort?" Houston, you have a problem.
The White House counsel who produced the documents stated that some records were not included because of "significant confidentiality interests."
Also included are email photographs including images of a .50 caliber rifle that Newell tells O'Reilly "was purchased in Tucson, Arizona (part of another OCDTF case)." OCDTF is a joint task force that operates under the Department of Justice and includes the US Attorneys, ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE and IRS. Fast and Furious was an OCDTF case. An administration source would not describe the Tucson OCDTF case. However, CBS News has learned that ATF's Phoenix office led an operation out of Tucson called "Wide Receiver." Sources claim ATF allowed guns to "walk" in that operation, much like Fast and Furious. (Emphasis supplied, MBV.)
Been waitin' for that one. We heard about "Wide Receiver" a while ago and were asked not to break the story. Knowing that it would come out one day, we agreed. Can you say, "national policy to allow weapons to walk"? I knew you could. And the frigging White House is asking about it. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Congressional investigators for Republicans Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) have asked to interview O'Reilly by September 30. But the Administration informed them that O'Reilly is on assignment for the State Department in Iraq and unavailable.
One administration source says White House national security staffers were "briefed on the toplines of ongoing federal efforts, but nobody in White House knew about the investigative tactics being used in the operation, let alone any decision to let guns walk."
Riiiiight.
NOTE: To those folks I talked with in Chicago and tasked with certain open source research, please contact me as soon as possible.
7 comments:
Yeah.
They're not worried about smashing up the constitution and bill of rights.
Confidentiality is more important.
Which of course provides them with the opportunity to not only smash up the constitution and bill of rights but the ability to evade responsibility and therefore, consequences.
Works just fine for them. Not so much for us "little people."
Now that it very important to interview White House National Security Staffer Kevin O'Reilly he's conveniently out of country! But wait, he's in a theater of war, Iraq. Isn't there a remote possibility he could be harmed there or even fragged? With this latest lead and a good chance the lid is about to come off the can of worms, wouldn't that be a real shame.
Well - O'Reilly's interest in gun flows from Texas(???) to Mexico is the bombshell - AG probably thought everyone knows about that op or would have redacted. For WH to instigate that question shows knowledge that was previously hidden. Yes - O'Reilly needs to be on the next plane back from Iraq and replaced with someone who will not be in jail for complicity in lawbreaking. Unfortunately for WH, Twitter is alive with the story and there are millions who have the opportunity to read all about it! If it doesn't make the Sunday news programs, we are inept at communication. The more e-mails and twitter they receive, the less chance they can duck. Fire away, 3 percenters!
What I could find on Wide Receiver
http://onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com/2011/06/operation-wide-receiver.html
Do you think Bush knew anything about this? Sounds like Gillett and Newell were on their own but when Obama came in, sold their scheme and brought in a bunch of anti-gun activists to make a difference.
Kevin O'Reilly is in a good place! There are many PROFESSIONAL INTERROGATORS in Iraq that would be honored to conduct an 'INTERVIEW' with him... and by the interviews end, there would be a crystal clear understanding of exactly who knew what & precisely when they knew they would be participating in subverting the Constitution, the Bill Of Rights and using Executive branch privileges to undermine & destroy our representative republic.
quote: "Did last year's TX effort develop a similar graphic?"
Texas effort? What are you talking about, dude? What Texas effort? I don't remember last year, dude. Where's Texas anyway? Uhhh.... (here the administration's minions giggle like lunatics).
Limited hang out?
Post a Comment