The Cellar - Fast and Furious

LegalTimes.com
9/19/12

DOJ Review Knocks Senior Officials—But Not Holder—Over Fast and Furious

Quote:

An internal Justice Department review released today criticizes senior DOJ officials
for their roles in the failed Operation Fast and Furious gun-smuggling program,
but clears Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. of personal knowledge about
the two major accusations from congressional Republicans.

The 471-page report from the DOJ inspector general's office, released this afternoon,
presents a comprehensive review of Operation Fast and Furious and will be the subject
of a hearing Thursday before the House Oversight and Government Relations Committee,
chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).<snip>

Quote:

"In the course of our review we identified individuals ranging from line agents and prosecutors
in Phoenix and Tucson to senior ATF officials in Washington, D.C., who bore a share of responsibility
for ATF's knowing failure in both these operations to interdict firearms illegally destined for Mexico,
and for doing so without adequately taking into account the danger to public safety
that flowed from this risky strategy,"

the report states.

Quote:

"We also found failures by Department officials related to these matters,
including failing to respond accurately to a Congressional inquiry about them."

<snip>
The report also found that Holder "had no involvement in drafting or reviewing"
the February 4 letter to Congress that denied that ATF "sanctioned" or otherwise knowingly
allowed the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser who then transported them into Mexico.
Holder decided to withdraw that letter in December 2011, after concluding that it contained inaccuracies.
<snip>

The attorney general's statement criticized—but not by name
—people who assailed Holder's handling of the Fast and Furious probe.

Quote:

"It is unfortunate that some were so quick to make baseless accusations
before they possessed the facts about these operations — accusations that turned out to be without foundation and that have caused
a great deal of unnecessary harm and confusion,"

Holder said.

Quote:

"I hope today's report acts as a reminder of the dangers of adopting as fact
unsubstantiated conclusions before an investigation of the circumstances is completed."