BATF Chief Testified On The Fourth Of July

One wonders if but for the blogosphere anyone would even know of Operation Fast and Furious. In part, this probably because Rep Darrell Issa and Sen. Chuck Grassley have conducted this investigation with decorum and without the leaks the public has grown to expect from Washington. It is news when an agency director eschews his government counsel and hires his own lawyer and testifies on the Fourth of July but don't wait for the MSM to report it. On the Fourth of July, Kenneth Melson, Acting Director of the BATF, did testify before
the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Senator Chuck Grassley, yesterday sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder advising him of Melson's testimony. Reader are urged to read the letter for themselves but here are a few points I have gleaned:

• Melson voluntarily decided to come in himself, and not wait until a scheduled meeting next week and hired his own lawyer.



• Melson was shocked and nauseated to discover – after the fact – that the perfectly straightforward sting operation that he was overseeing had been perverted into policy where guns were allowed to be handed off to Mexican terrorists. As soon as he discovered this, he and the rest of BATFE’s leadership had everyone managing F&F operations reassigned.



• Melson and the rest of BATFE’s leadership wanted to give full disclosure to Congress over this entire affair. But the Justice Department officials directed them not to respond and took full control of replying to briefing and document requests from Congress.



• Justice Department officials directed them not to respond and took full control of replying to briefing and document requests from Congress



• "The Acting Director said that ATF was kept in the dark about certain activities of other agencies, including DEA and FBI".This suggests the investigation will go beyond BATF.



• Ken Melson is now considered to be a whistle-blower, which means that the Department of Justice would be well advised to tread lightly in any future dealings with him.