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From: ConservativeActionAlerts Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 Subject: Congress Scolds Eric Holder Over ATF Again!!
Original Message from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA).
I believe in the Second Amendment rights that are guaranteed to us by the United States Constitution and whenever those rights being compromised, I want to alert my friends to that. President Obama and his administration are against those Second Amendment rights.
Please take a moment to read and act on this important message about keeping Congress, Eric Holder and President Obama accountable for their actions.
Sincerely, Tony Adkins, Conservative Action Alerts
My Gun Rights Ally, Whenever a high government scandal breaks, the finger-pointing begins. Eventually, someone takes the "hit" as the "fall guy" so no one higher up the chain of command is indicted. All reports said that ATF Acting Director, Kenneth Melson, was "the anointed one" to take the hit for Eric Holder and Barack Obama.
Melson was to be the "scapegoat" for the mis-directions of the ATF Scandal "Fast and Furious" or "Project Gunrunner."
But guess what, Mr. Melson decided NOT to play "the Obama Game!"
In fact, Melson gave secret testimony to Congressional investigators over the holiday, July 4th!
Going against the rules of his own ATF Bureau, Melson brought his own private lawyer. He told Congress in a secret deposition that the Department of Justice has falsely leaked stories to the press that he was about to resign, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa revealed.
This situation has now put Mr. Melson at odds with Eric Holder. A meeting scheduled between Eric Holder and Andrew Traver did not happen this past week. But the July 4th "shocker" might give reason for Barack Obama to move forward in the confirmation process of anti-gun zealot Andrew Traver --- sooner, rather than later. We cannot let that happen!
Following the interview with Melson, Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, in a 'SCORCHING' letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, expressed their deep concerns about the involvement of the DEA, FBI, and other agencies - including the possibility that they were aware of and even working with people connected to Fast and Furious suspects.
Acting Director Melson made key assertions to Congressional investigators:
I believe in the Second Amendment rights that are guaranteed to us by the United States Constitution and whenever those rights being compromised, I want to alert my friends to that. President Obama and his administration are against those Second Amendment rights.
Please take a moment to read and act on this important message about keeping Congress, Eric Holder and President Obama accountable for their actions.
Sincerely, Tony Adkins, Conservative Action Alerts
My Gun Rights Ally, Whenever a high government scandal breaks, the finger-pointing begins. Eventually, someone takes the "hit" as the "fall guy" so no one higher up the chain of command is indicted. All reports said that ATF Acting Director, Kenneth Melson, was "the anointed one" to take the hit for Eric Holder and Barack Obama.
Melson was to be the "scapegoat" for the mis-directions of the ATF Scandal "Fast and Furious" or "Project Gunrunner."
But guess what, Mr. Melson decided NOT to play "the Obama Game!"
In fact, Melson gave secret testimony to Congressional investigators over the holiday, July 4th!
Going against the rules of his own ATF Bureau, Melson brought his own private lawyer. He told Congress in a secret deposition that the Department of Justice has falsely leaked stories to the press that he was about to resign, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa revealed.
This situation has now put Mr. Melson at odds with Eric Holder. A meeting scheduled between Eric Holder and Andrew Traver did not happen this past week. But the July 4th "shocker" might give reason for Barack Obama to move forward in the confirmation process of anti-gun zealot Andrew Traver --- sooner, rather than later. We cannot let that happen!
Following the interview with Melson, Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, in a 'SCORCHING' letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, expressed their deep concerns about the involvement of the DEA, FBI, and other agencies - including the possibility that they were aware of and even working with people connected to Fast and Furious suspects.
Acting Director Melson made key assertions to Congressional investigators:
Contrary to denials by the Justice Department, Melson acknowledged the agents had in fact witnessed transfers of weapons from straw purchasers to third parties without following the guns any further.
The ATF group executing Operation Fast and Furious had been placed under the direction of the Arizona U.S. Attorney's office.
In the shocking July 5th letter to Holder, part of it reads: "...His (Melson) interview had originally been scheduled through the Justice Department to occur on July 13 in the presence of DOJ and ATF counsel. As you know, however, under our agreement Department witnesses who choose to attend a voluntary interview with their own lawyer (like Melson did on July 4) are free to exercise that right rather than participate with counsel representing the Department's interests."
"After being made aware of that provision of our agreement, Acting Director Melson chose to exercise that right and appeared with his own lawyer. We are disappointed that no one had previously informed him of that provision of the agreement. Instead, Justice Department officials sought to limit and control his communications with Congress. This is yet another example of why direct communications with Congress are so important and are protected by law."
Acting Director Melson's cooperation was extremely helpful to the congressional investigation.
According to Melson, he and ATF's senior leadership team moved to reassign every manager involved in Fast and Furious, from the Deputy Assistant Director for Field Operations down to the Group Supervisor, after learning the facts in those documents.
Additional wording in their letter said:
"Mr. Melson also said he was not allowed to communicate to Congress the reasons for the reassignments. He claimed that ATF's senior leadership would have preferred to be more cooperative with our inquiry much earlier in the process. However, he said that Justice Department officials directed them not to respond and took full control of replying to briefing and document requests from Congress. The result is that Congress only got the parts of the story that the Department wanted us to hear."
"If this account is accurate, then ATF leadership appears to have been effectively muzzled while the DOJ sent over false denials and buried its head in the sand. That approach distorted the truth and obstructed our investigation. The Department's inability or unwillingness to be more forthcoming served to conceal critical information that we are now learning about the involvement of other agencies, including the DEA and the FBI."
"After being made aware of that provision of our agreement, Acting Director Melson chose to exercise that right and appeared with his own lawyer. We are disappointed that no one had previously informed him of that provision of the agreement. Instead, Justice Department officials sought to limit and control his communications with Congress. This is yet another example of why direct communications with Congress are so important and are protected by law."
Acting Director Melson's cooperation was extremely helpful to the congressional investigation.
According to Melson, he and ATF's senior leadership team moved to reassign every manager involved in Fast and Furious, from the Deputy Assistant Director for Field Operations down to the Group Supervisor, after learning the facts in those documents.
Additional wording in their letter said:
"Mr. Melson also said he was not allowed to communicate to Congress the reasons for the reassignments. He claimed that ATF's senior leadership would have preferred to be more cooperative with our inquiry much earlier in the process. However, he said that Justice Department officials directed them not to respond and took full control of replying to briefing and document requests from Congress. The result is that Congress only got the parts of the story that the Department wanted us to hear."
"If this account is accurate, then ATF leadership appears to have been effectively muzzled while the DOJ sent over false denials and buried its head in the sand. That approach distorted the truth and obstructed our investigation. The Department's inability or unwillingness to be more forthcoming served to conceal critical information that we are now learning about the involvement of other agencies, including the DEA and the FBI."
The Committee continues to gather evidence, despite the stonewalling! Now, through the direct testimony of Melson, it strongly suggests that even Holder knew about the illegalities of this project. There is the disturbing possibility that the Justice Department not only allowed criminals to smuggle weapons but that taxpayer dollars from other agencies may have financed those engaging in such activities.
Here is the "bombshell" paragraph from the letter:
"It is one thing to argue that the ends justify the means in an attempt to defend a policy that puts building a big case ahead of stopping known criminals from getting guns. Yet it is a much more serious matter to conceal from Congress the possible involvement of other agencies in identifying and maybe even working with the same criminals that Operation Fast and Furious was trying to identify."
The Department of Justice, under the direction of Eric Holder, prevented ATF from being forthcoming and responsive to questions from Congress. This is the context in which Mr. Melson decided to submit to an on-the-record interview with private counsel, pursuant to a Congressional agreement with the Department.
The damaging letter from the Congressional Committee went on to say:
"Technically, Mr. Melson no longer enjoys the due process protections afforded to career officials. Given his testimony, unless a permanent director is confirmed, it would be inappropriate for the Justice Department to take action against him that could have the effect of intimidating others who might want to provide additional information to the Committees."
Obviously, Melson will not willingly be "the fall guy" for this botched operation, even though I am sure that Eric Holder wants him to take it, instead of Holder himself---or even "higher up." However, now that Melson has somewhat turned against his Department of Justice bosses in this secret testimony, that might give Mr. Obama a reason to fire him and move forward in the confirmation process of Andrew Traver. NO WAY!
Here is the "bombshell" paragraph from the letter:
"It is one thing to argue that the ends justify the means in an attempt to defend a policy that puts building a big case ahead of stopping known criminals from getting guns. Yet it is a much more serious matter to conceal from Congress the possible involvement of other agencies in identifying and maybe even working with the same criminals that Operation Fast and Furious was trying to identify."
The Department of Justice, under the direction of Eric Holder, prevented ATF from being forthcoming and responsive to questions from Congress. This is the context in which Mr. Melson decided to submit to an on-the-record interview with private counsel, pursuant to a Congressional agreement with the Department.
The damaging letter from the Congressional Committee went on to say:
"Technically, Mr. Melson no longer enjoys the due process protections afforded to career officials. Given his testimony, unless a permanent director is confirmed, it would be inappropriate for the Justice Department to take action against him that could have the effect of intimidating others who might want to provide additional information to the Committees."
Obviously, Melson will not willingly be "the fall guy" for this botched operation, even though I am sure that Eric Holder wants him to take it, instead of Holder himself---or even "higher up." However, now that Melson has somewhat turned against his Department of Justice bosses in this secret testimony, that might give Mr. Obama a reason to fire him and move forward in the confirmation process of Andrew Traver. NO WAY!
In a strange "twist of events," now Grassley and Issa seemingly are on Melson's side.
Their letter ended by saying: "For now, the Office of Inspector General is still conducting its review, and we are still conducting ours. Knowing what we know so far, we believe it would be inappropriate to make Mr. Melson the fall guy in an attempt to prevent further congressional oversight."
Just how far up the chain-of-command does this investigation need to go?
Now that the ATF Acting Director has spoken, apparently up to Eric Holder! Maybe even further than that! Let's help Congress to get to the bottom of this.
If the anti-gun Andrew Traver is confirmed, valuable follow-up testimony from Melson might be lost, but I am sure that Traver, given his anti-gun reputation, will not be forthcoming with information, either.
Will you help us to get to the bottom of this? Please fax and help us right away! Our communications to every U.S. Senator will tell them the truth; and will implore them that Mr. Traver is NOT the one who should be confirmed! Please respond today!
Their letter ended by saying: "For now, the Office of Inspector General is still conducting its review, and we are still conducting ours. Knowing what we know so far, we believe it would be inappropriate to make Mr. Melson the fall guy in an attempt to prevent further congressional oversight."
Just how far up the chain-of-command does this investigation need to go?
Now that the ATF Acting Director has spoken, apparently up to Eric Holder! Maybe even further than that! Let's help Congress to get to the bottom of this.
If the anti-gun Andrew Traver is confirmed, valuable follow-up testimony from Melson might be lost, but I am sure that Traver, given his anti-gun reputation, will not be forthcoming with information, either.
Will you help us to get to the bottom of this? Please fax and help us right away! Our communications to every U.S. Senator will tell them the truth; and will implore them that Mr. Traver is NOT the one who should be confirmed! Please respond today!
Thank you for your care and concern.
Respectfully, Alan M. Gottlieb, Chairman, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (http://CCRKBA.org)
P. S. Mr. Traver's ANTI-GUN history goes way beyond just fighting gangs. He, along with the backing of his boss, Barack Obama --- wants you to forfeit your guns under the disguise of disarming gangs. THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IS A UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONALLY-GUARANTEED RIGHT GIVEN TO US BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS! If you prefer to donate by check, please mail to: Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Dept Code 6574, Liberty Park, 12500 NE 10th Place,
Bellevue, WA 98005 -- Contributions are not tax deductible. The Citizens Committee can be reached by phone at (425) 454-4911 or by email to InformationRequest@ccrkba.org
Respectfully, Alan M. Gottlieb, Chairman, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (http://CCRKBA.org)
P. S. Mr. Traver's ANTI-GUN history goes way beyond just fighting gangs. He, along with the backing of his boss, Barack Obama --- wants you to forfeit your guns under the disguise of disarming gangs. THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IS A UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONALLY-GUARANTEED RIGHT GIVEN TO US BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS! If you prefer to donate by check, please mail to: Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Dept Code 6574, Liberty Park, 12500 NE 10th Place,
Bellevue, WA 98005 -- Contributions are not tax deductible. The Citizens Committee can be reached by phone at (425) 454-4911 or by email to InformationRequest@ccrkba.org
ERIC HOLDER'S GUNRUNNER SCANDAL FUNDED WITH $10 MILLION OF OBAMA'S STIMULUS MONEY
ERIC HOLDER'S POORLY EXECUTED ATTEMPT TO DEMOLISH THE SECOND AMENDMENT
There is a new little wrinkle in Attorney General Eric Holder's claims of ignorance regarding the Gunrunner Scandal – Holder's Department of Justice requested and received $10 million in funding specifically for "Project Gunrunner" as part of Obama's 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka the Stimulus Bill. The damning evidence can be found on page 16 of the Act, under the heading "Department of Justice" and subheading "Office of Justice Programs"! According to the Library of Congress the section reads as follows:"For an additional amount for 'State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance', $40,000,000, for competitive grants to provide assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the Southern border and in High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas to combat criminal narcotics activity stemming from the Southern border, of which $10,000,000 shall be transferred to 'Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Salaries and Expenses' for the ATF Project Gunrunner."
Eric Holder not only knew about Gunrunner, he requested $10 million to fund it. The only question now is, how much did Barack Obama know and when did he know it?
"You've got people who are dead. You have weapons that are missing and you have an administration that doesn't seem to want to take any accountability for it," Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT).
Like something out of a bad conspiracy movie, it is beginning to appear that Holder agreed to the now infamous "Gunrunner/Gun Walking/Fast & Furious" program in part to help Second Amendment hating Leftists who sought to impose gun control by "proving" that law abiding American gun shops were responsible for Mexican gang violence.
The plan might have worked brilliantly were it not for one murdered U.S. border patrol agent and a handful of dedicated ATF agents brave and honorable enough to blow the whistle on their own organization's shameful sellout of the U.S. Constitution.
Even now, as the true cost and body count resulting from Holder's betrayal become evident, the Left just isn't ready to give up. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said in a statement that "no legitimate examination of this issue will be complete without analyzing our nation's gun laws, which allow tens of thousands of assault weapons to flood into Mexico from the United States every year, including fifty caliber sniper rifles, multiple AK variants, and scores of others." Rep. Cummings apparently does not care that it was the U.S. Government, not its citizens, who sent these guns – in violation of standing U.S. law – to Mexico in the first place. Anything to kill the Second Amendment – even killing our own brave border patrol field agents!
As the damning evidence and criminal implications mount, Eric Holder's Department of Justice seems intent upon stonewalling – adding contempt of Congress to the possible list of charges levied against the ATF and DOJ.
ATF supervisors, acting as Holder's "yes men" and co-conspirators have already been caught red handed in a web of lies poured upon a suspicious Congress and a shocked nation. While [LIARS!]--> supervisors told the House Oversight Committee that no guns were ever allowed across the border, whistle blowing ATF field agents have provided ample evidence to the contrary. For every document the ATF powerbrokers have refused to turn over, brave agents-on-the-ground have turned over their own records, including emails from the very supervisors denying "Project Gun Walker" (now being called "Project Gunrunner" by the mainstream media) which, in the higher-ups' own words and directives, confirms the entire gun walking operation.
ATF supervisors, surprised that their lies had been exposed, are now refusing to turn documents over to House Oversight Chairman Chairman Darrell Issa's investigators, claiming the need for redaction of sensitive and classified information. Chairman Issa has made it clear that he wants these documents unmolested. But given the current state of our criminal government, it is doubtful he will receive the evidence any time soon, if at all. We must stand up for our rights before a corrupt Eric Holder and tyrannical Barack Obama seize our guns and our liberty without any hope of restoration or renewal.
BACKGROUND: ERIC HOLDER'S LONG EXPERIENCE WITH GUN RUNNERS: Holder has been defending a Columbian gun running scam since 2007
The DOJ/ATF "Gun Walker" scandal isn't the first time Eric Holder's name has come up in association with gun runners and terrorist organizations. Just a few years ago Holder acted as defense attorney for one of the largest gun running scandals in recent history.
In 2007, then private attorney Eric Holder defended the group that funneled $1.7 million into the Columbian group AUC (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia) – a U.S. designated terrorist organization. In addition to funding, Chiquita International Brands (CIB) helped the group illegally import over 3,000 AK-47s and 5 million rounds of ammunition into a country ripped apart by drug wars. And Eric Holder not only defended CIB, he initially argued to the court that CIB had done nothing wrong. When that did not work, he helped CIB negotiate a relatively small fine and eliminate legal penalties for the CIB employees who facilitated the illicit weapons transactions.
Now it comes to light that Eric Holder's own U.S. Department of Justice, through its reporting agency the ATF, instituted a policy of assisting in the illegal export of guns to Mexican drug cartels. ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) agents reportedly not only turned a blind eye toward illegal gun sales, field agents were forced by superiors to actively facilitate the transfers [aka 'violate the law'.] And in at least one case, that of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, the cartels used those "gun walked" weapons to murder U.S. officers.In his recent testimony before Congress, Eric Holder claimed absolutely no knowledge of the "Gun Walker" program. But given his previous work with gun runners, it is not far-fetched to imagine that Holder not only knew, but had a large hand in the program.
Frankly, the ongoing DOJ/ATF "Gun Walker" scandal represents only the latest in a long line of disgraces associated with Attorney General Eric Holder, including numerous instances of his refusal to enforce or even abide by the law, such as the New Black Panthers voter intimidation case, the ACORN Voter corruption and funding scandals, federal court orders regarding "ObamaCare" and Congressional subpoenas, and his shocking dereliction of duty regarding the Defense of Marriage Act.
Rather than stand as the "top cop" and ultimate sentinel and protector of our nation's rule of law, Holder seems to be far more interested in traducing the law to suit his own cronies, radical friends, colleagues, business associates – plus random "clients" and high bidders.
How much longer will we tolerate corruption and outright trampling of the Constitution from America's highest law enforcement office? Our current Attorney General is not fit to lead the Department of Justice. ERIC HOLDER MUST GO!
Congressional hearings into the "Gun Walker" case are happening now, so we must act quickly to ensure the Department of Justice can be cleansed of the cancer destroying it from within. Please fax Congress now! And please consider making a donation to help Life & Liberty PAC continue our crucial whistleblowing operations.
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