By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
Two years after weapons found at the site of the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent were traced to the failed Fast and Furious gunrunning investigation, a senior House Republican who led committee hearings into the shooting and the operation says there has been "real accountability" for those whose actions contributed to the death and Justice Department officials who failed to properly oversee the operation.
Four senior ATF managers who supervised the botched Fast and Furious gunrunning investigation could face termination if the recommendations of a disciplinary board are upheld.
A Republican House committee chairman said Thursday that a watchdog report on a bungled gun-trafficking probe in Arizona is a huge step toward restoring public faith in the Justice Department.
The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General on Wednesday blamed the failure of Operation Fast and Furious on a series of "misguided strategies," but found no evidence that Attorney General Eric. H. Holder Jr. knew of the misguided gunrunning investigation before its public unraveling in January 2011.
Nearly two years after weapons purchased during the botched "Fast and Furious" gunrunning investigation were found at the scene of the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent, a Justice Department report on Wednesday outlined a "pattern of serious failures" in the handling of the operation by both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. attorney's office in Arizona.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said Tuesday that the Justice Department should never have allowed guns to be "walked" to drug smugglers in Mexico as part of its Fast and Furious undercover weapons investigation — saying the operation was "flawed in its concept, as well in its execution."
The "Fast and Furious" probe isn't the first time Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s truthfulness has been challenged by members of Congress.
A Thai appeals court on Friday ordered the extradition of suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States, angering Moscow but paving the way to put the man dubbed the "Merchant of Death" on trial.
Mr. Grindler, who served as Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s chief of staff, announced his resignation on Dec. 3.
Issa: 'Real accountability' for Fast and Furious is happening →
Earlier this week, Gary Grindler, a top Justice Department official who was criticized by the inspector general for his handling of Fast and Furious, announced he was leaving the department.
Firings advised for 4 ATF leaders tied to Fast and Furious →
