Rep. Darrell Issa
(R-CA) has been tenacious in his pursuit of the truth regarding the failed
federal gun-walking operation Fast and Furious –and it may finally be paying
off despite the consistent stonewalling by the U.S. Department of
Justice and the Obama administration.
Issa, in a letter to U.S. Attorney General
Eric Holder dated June 5, 2012, says senior Justice Department
officials had specific knowledge that their federal agents were allowing guns
to walk across the Mexico border. This is something that DOJ officials
have repeatedly denied.
On what basis did Issa make such a bold accusation? He says the investigating committee is basing their information on six wiretap applications that have been obtained by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and relate to the failed operation.
“The wiretap applications show that immense detail about questionable investigative tactics was available to the senior officials who reviewed and authorized them,” Issa wrote. “The close involvement of these officials – much greater than previously known – is shocking.”
The six wiretap applications were approved by senior Justice Department officials from March through July, 2010, according Issa. All of the applications included a “memorandum” from Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer to Paul M. O’Brien, Office of Enforcement director. Source
