Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Fast and Furious Timeline and News Links - Sept. 2011


September 2011


September 1, 2011 - USA Today reports on the new ATF director and the two investigations that will continue. The new director blames the agency's troubles on - guess who? The NRA, of course. This all happened because the NRA refused to stand by while an anti-gun zealot was confirmed as the head of ATF. There seems to be a pattern here.

September 1, 2011 - A new article from CBS news reporter Sharyl Attkisson: Cover-up in ATF gunwalker case?

September 1, 2011 - National Review Online: Foreign Policy on Operation Fast and Furious

September 1, 2011 - David Hardy writing in "Of Arms and the Law" exposes the "shills" in the media who are trying to shift blame away from the administration.

September 1, 2011 - Wall Street Journal: Grassley, Issa Expand ‘Fast and Furious’ Investigation

September 1, 2011 - USA Today: GOP lawmakers: Coverup attempted in death of Border Patrol agent

September 1, 2011 - Pasadena Star News: Our View: Questions linger in ATF probe

September 1, 2011 - KPHO TV, Phoenix: Cover up alleged in Fast and Furious

September 2, 2011 - Fox News also reports on the cover up in an article entitled, "Demand for More Answers in Fast and Furious Scandal"

September 2, 2011 - LA Times: White House received "Fast and Furious" emails

September 2, 2011 - CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports on the expansion of the Congressional investigation into the ATF "Fast and Furious" gunwalker scandal.

September 2, 2011 - Katie Pavlich at Townhall.com: At Least Three White House Officials Knew About Operation Fast and Furious

September 2, 2011 - Openmarket.org: Obama Administration Violated Federal Laws in Operation Fast and Furious

September 2, 2011 - The Detriot News: Keep asking questions about bungled gun sting

September 2, 2011 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Fast & Furious fallout: Holder should be next

September 2, 2011 - Main Justice: What Did The White House Know About Fast and Furious?

September 2, 2011 - Politico: Emails show some W.H. contact on 'Fast and Furious'

September 2, 2011 -Washington Post: White House e-mails refer to gun-trafficking operation

September 2, 2011 - CBS News: ATF Gunwalker: Who at the White House knew?

September 2, 2011 - Hot Air: Fast and Furious e-mails reached at least three White House officials

September 4, 2011 - Big Government.com: White House Cover-up Makes Continuation of Fast and Furious Investigation Imperative

September 4, 2011 - Azcentral.com: Lawmakers press for gun-case details - U.S. Attorney's Office documents sought

September 4, 2011 - Tacoma News Tribune, columnist Brian O'Neill - a sworn police officer - writes an opinion piece: Fast and Furious = Desperate and Political

September 4, 2011 - CBN News reports that information on buyers instant check forms - including social security numbers - has been made available to law enforcement in 35 nations - including Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Suriame, Jamaica, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. They express concerns that widespread identity theft is possible.

September 4, 2011 - The Solaria Sun reports on the ATF cover up

September 5, 2011 - The New American: White House Was Briefed About "Fast and Furious" Gunwalker Scandal

September 5, 2011 - The reporters who first broke the Gunwalker Scandal report that ATF used the same methods in an Indiana Case. Examiner.com Sipsey Street Irregulars

September 5, 2011 - More from David Codrea at Examiner.com: Federal LEO advocacy group charges retaliation for Gunwalker testimony

September 6, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal reports that in addition to Gunwalker, the same people released a suspect in 2010 who is now accused of manufacturing grenades in the US and smuggling them into Mexico for use by the cartels.

September 6, 2011 - One News Now: ATF reassignments step 'closer to the truth'

September 6, 2011 - Vallejo CA Times-Herald: Serious Questions Remain (reprint from Denver Post)

September 6, 2011 - Human Events: Three Fall Guys Won't Make Fast and Furious Go Away

September 6, 2011 - AZ Daily Sun: Botched gun sting raising questions

September 6, 2011 - Longview TX News-Journal: Fatal flaw: Firings are justified as a result of ill-conceived federal gun investigation

September 6, 2011 - Human Events: Obama, DOJ Play Musical Chairs at BATFE - Administration's reaction to Fast and Furious scandal is a scandal

September 6, 2011 - CBS News: Source: ATF Gunwalker case to be transferred out of Arizona

September 6, 2011 - Newsmax: Issa: 'Fast and Furious' Was a Crime

September 7, 2011 - NPR: New ATF Chief Inherits Agency Fighting For Survival The headline says it all. We have reacted a point where news outlets on both the left and the right realize that ATF is in danger of being abolished.

September 7, 2011 - Bob Barr, writing in The Daily Caller: It’s time to fill the ATF’s leadership vacuum. In this opinion piece, Barr argues that the Obama administration needs to nominate a director who is not an anti-gun zealot and the firearms community must be willing to accept a professional nominee who will fairly enforce the law.

September 7, 2011 - The Arizona Daily Star: New criticism in 'Fast, Furious' Another story detailing the attempt to cover up the scandal.

September 7, 2011 - Washington Post: New federal prosecutors called in for cases arising from flawed arms trafficking operation

September 7, 2011 - CBS News: McCain wants AG to testify at gunwalker hearing - McCain's letter

September 7, 2011 - Newsmax: U.S. Attorney General Seeks Distance from Gun Sting

September 7, 2011 - Holder: 'Fast and Furious' operation didn't reach DOJ 'upper levels'

September 7, 2011 - Fox News: Holder Denies Prior Knowledge of 'Fast and Furious'

September 8, 2011 - Coverage continues on Sen. McCain's call for Senate hearingss on Gunwalker, especially in Arizona:

AP
Phoenix Business Journal AZ Republic ABC News 15 AZ Daily Star Corvalis OR Gazette Times

September 8, 2011 - Coverage also continues of AG Eric Holder's denial that he knew of the Gunwalker operation:

Gather.com Texas Insider Politico Fox News Tickle the Wire Examiner.com

September 9, 2011 - (Belatedly from September 7) - Investor's Business Daily publishes an editorial entitled: A White House 'Gunrunner'? They demand that Restrepo and two other White House officials were in on Gunwalker and demand that they testify - or that Obama face impeachment.

September 9, 2011 - More Gunwalker guns have been traced to US crime scenes. Sadly, this is likely to continue to happen for years.

CBS News - Politico - Fox News - LA Times - AZ Daily Star - UPI - ABC 15

September 9, 2011 - The Port Huron Times-Herald publishes an editorial on Gunwalker: Failed gun sting needs answers. They state "Operation Fast and Furious was a disgrace. The American people must know why it was created, why it failed and who was responsible."

September 9, 2011 - In a surprising move, UPI publishes a special report: "ATF Mexico gun scandal far from over" In it they report the cover up and the White House links. They state that the public deserves truthful answers.

September 9, 2011 - Boston Herald: Congress expands Fast and Furious probe to include White House

September 9, 2011 - CBS News: ATF investigation expands to White House staffers

September 9, 2011 - Fox News: Third Gun Linked to 'Fast and Furious' Identified at Border Agent's Murder Scene

September 9, 2011 - The American Thinker editorial: Eric Holder, Another Day Another Denial. They contend that Eric Holder needs to take responsibility for the Gunwalker scandal and resign. If he doesn't, Obama should fire him.

September 10, 2011 - The Daily Caller: Issa, Grassley take ‘Fast and Furious’ investigation to the White House

September 10, 2011 - The Washington Post: Guns tied to botched federal weapons-smuggling probe are recovered at 2nd Arizona crime scene

September 11, 2011 - Fort Wayne IN Journal Gazette: Gunrunning farce smacks of conspiracy In this editorial the paper contends that motive for Gunwalker was to provide justification for gun control in the US.

September 12, 2011 - California GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says Attorney General Eric Holder is "so inept that he may be a danger as attorney general" and that President Barack Obama should consider firing him. Issa also states that the only conceivable reason for the program was to justify gun control in the US.

Laura Ingraham Show - Newsmax - Main Justice - The Hill

September 12, 2011 - The LA Times continues its' extensive coverage of Gunwalker with a very sympathetic story on one of the gun stores that was involved in the operation. They make it very clear that he expressed his concerns to ATF repeatedly, and they responded with reassuring lies.

September 13, 2011 - The New Jersey newspaper the Courier Post accuses Eric Holder of conducting a cover up in Gunwalker.

September 13, 2011 - The Hill: Napolitano denies knowledge of Fast and Furious gun-tracking program

September 13, 2011 - The Moral Liberal: Internal Docs List Crimes Tied To ATF Gun Operation

September 14, 2011 - The Vista (UCSD Newspaper) publishes an editorial: Operation Gunwalker Backfires

September 14, 2011 - CBS News: 3 more murders linked to Gunwalker

September 15, 2011 - (Late from Sept. 13) Rep. Darrel Issa on Fox News: Fast and Furious: Who In The White House Knew?

September 15, 2011 - Investors Business Daily article: Alcohol, Tobacco And Murder IBD states that Gunwalker is worse than Solyndra, and that we need to find out if President Obama knew and hold him accountable if he did.

September 15, 2011 - Townhall.com: More Violent Crimes in Mexico a Result of Operation Fast and Furious

September 15, 2011 - Ground Report's Lawman Review: Outrage: Crimes tied to ATF Operation Fast & Furious uncovered

September 15, 2011 - Human Events: "Fast and Furious" Corpses Pile Up - Issa follows the trail to the White House.

September 16, 2011 - The East Valley Tribune: Fast and Furious should be renamed ‘Foolish and Fatal’

September 16, 2011 - Human Events: Are Fast and Furious Guns Coming to a Town Near You?

September 16, 2011 - The Washington Times: Fast and Furious gun program absurd, deadly

September 16, 2011 - In another unrelated indication of trouble at ATF agent gets three years in prison for embezzling cigarettes and guns

Chron.com - Daily Press - Hampton Roads.com

September 17, 2011 - Big Government.com: Today’s Special: Rocket Launchers (from a Fast and Furious Dealer Near You)

September 18, 2011 - Sacramento Bee: Mexico still waiting for answers on Fast and Furious gun program

September 18, 2011 - Tampa Bay Online carries an LA Times Story: Gun seller who helped ATF had doubts about the sting

September 19, 2011 - Arizona Republic Editorial: Gun Scandal Skipping The Big Fish

September 19, 2011 - CBS News: Secret recordings raise new questions in ATF 'Gunwalker' operation These recordings provide evidence that there was a 3rd gun (an SKS) recovered at the scene of Agent Terry's murder. Why was this gun covered up? Even more interesting, who made the recording and are there more?

September 19, 2011 - Townhall.com - Katie Pavlich: Operation Fast and Furious: Coverup Continues With New Secret Recording

September 19, 2011 - CBS News Releases more recordings: ATF Fast and Furious secret audio recordings Agent says she has a "file" that will protect her.

September 19, 2011 - Newsday Editorial: Shine a light on gun operation

September 19, 2011 - Arizona State University Newspaper: Heads should roll in administration’s Fast and Furious debacle

September 20, 2011 - Newsmax: US Officials Kept Mexico in Dark on 'Fast and Furious'

September 20, 2011 - Human Events Editorial: Fast and Furious: Time to Come Clean - The media plays along with a massive cover-up.

September 20, 2011 - Examiner.com: Breaking news--Congressman Issa discards mainstream media for bloggers

September 20, 2011 - Townhall.com: Attorney General in Mexico: 200 Murders Result of Operation Fast and Furious (Information from a conference call between Issa and Mexican AG, with reporters listening in)

September 20, 2011 - National Review Online: Did Fast and Furious Cause 200 Murders?

September 20, 2011 - CNSNews.com: Issa Says He Wants a Special Prosecutor to Probe 'Fast and Furious'

September 20, 2011 - CBS News has revised their previous article. They now reveal that the DOJ Inspector General turned the recordings over to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona - WHO WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION. The Inspector General's office has confirmed that this was done. This revelation casts even more doubt over the administration's internal investigation that so far has produced zero results. It should provide a boost to Rep. Issa's call for special prosecutor, as well as his committee's investigation.

September 20, 2011 - CBS News releases additional recordings, these include discussions where the head ATF agent discusses their fear of Congressional investigators and their expectation that AG Holder will shut them down. They express no fear of the DOJ Inspector General's investigation. It appears that CBS is either releasing segments as they are reviewed, or they are releasing the least damaging segments first and they are building to the most damaging.

September 20, 2011 - The Washington Post links to the CBS recordings.

September 20, 2011 - Investor's Business Daily editorial: The Administration's Tangled Web

September 21, 2011 - CBS News releases more recordings in which an ATF agent discuss how to deal with whistle blowing agents and the cover up.

September 21, 2011 - Newsmax covers Rep. Issa's call for a special prosecutor.

September 21, 2011 - Human Events reports on the recordings in a piece entitled, "Fast and Furious Tapes: Sit Your Ass Down, Charles Grassley - It’s bipartisan, the conspirators don’t think much of Pat Leahy, either."

September 21, 2011 - Townhall.com's Katie Pavlich reports: Panic Mode: Holder's Name Mentioned in New Fast and Furious Recordings

September 21, 2011 - Fox News, in an article entitled, "Audio Tapes Reveal More Details in 'Fast and Furious' Gunrunner Scandal" provides background on the CBS tapes. According to Fox, the lawyer representing the Lone Wolf Trading Co. says owner Andre Howard made the tapes only after he suspected he was being lied to by ATF and DOJ.

September 21, 2011 - Fox News reports that William Newell, an ATF official who clearly gave false testimony before congressional investigators, has now admitted that his testimony "lacked clarity" and has submitted revisions to the committee.

September 21, 2011 - Fox News reports that Sen. Grassley and Rep. Issa have directly accused the DOJ Inspector General - whose supposed "investigation" has produced zero results - of intentionally obstructing their investigation into Gunwalker. "The two lawmakers leading the probe into the Obama administration scandal claim Justice Inspector General Cynthia Schnedar compromised their investigators' ability to get to the truth and potentially prosecute those responsible for selling thousands of weapons to the Mexican drug cartels." They also allege that, "Schnedar failed to even listen to the recordings before handing them over to the actual targets of the investigation."

September 21, 2011 - Fox News video: 'Fast and Furious' Coverup? - Rep. Issa details concerns over new details in botched ATF gun running operation. Is a special prosecutor needed?

September 22, 2011 - David Codrea, Gun Rights Blogger/Reporter for Examiner.com, one of the two reporters who broke the story in January has uncovered an email from that time period (January 5th) in which the ATF Chief Counsel Stephen R. Rubenstein discusses a post describing Gunwalker and ways they can retaliate against the posting agent (whose identity was unknown). The email was sent to acting ATF head Kenneth Melson. Melson replied that he was going to forward the email to "A" or "IA". IA would be internal affairs. These emails not only prove that knowledge of Gunwalker was widespread within ATF management - they also prove that even after Agent Terry's death they were working hard to illegally cover it up.

September 22, 2011 - Politico: Darrell Issa and Charles Grassley: DOJ compromised gun probe

September 22, 2011 - NY Post: Holder’s hell week - More Fast & Furious fallout

September 22, 2011 - The Hill: Issa: Fast and Furious probe ‘stonewalled’ by DOJ

September 22, 2011 - The New American: Fast and Furious Scandal Grows

September 22, 2011 - NRA video releases a video Fast and Furious Round-table with Katie Pavlich of Townhall.com and Matthew Boyle of the Daily caller. Great discussion of recordings, and a possible bombshell. Katie Pavlich reports that she has seen an administration white paper (currently circulating) the recommends that BATFE be abolished and the assignment of its' responsibilities to other Federal Agencies.

September 23, 2011 - CBS News reports on NRA President Wayne LaPierre's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) today in Orlando. They report that he stated that the American people were "never supposed to find out" about ATF's "Fast and Furious" operation and that ""Fast and Furious" biggest cover-up since Watergate". After reporting his charges, CBS then references support for them in their previous reports. Who would have ever thought that a MSM outlet like CBS would openly side with the NRA?

September 23, 2011 - Fox News, in a report entitled, "Republicans Step Up Pressure on Holder as More Details Surface on 'Fast and Furious'", reports that Rep. Lamar Smith, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee wrote to Eric Holder that despite recent personnel changes at the Justice Department the department cannot "pin this scandal on a few individuals and expect it to be forgotten." He also wrote, "Fast and Furious was a result of systemic problems at the ATF. Congressional interest will continue until we fully understand who authorized the failed program." It should be noted that this is the first time the House Judiciary Committee, where any impeachment would begin, has taken interest in Gunwalker. The Fox Report also covers NRA President Wayne LaPierre's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

September 23, 2011 - The weekly Standard, in an article entitled "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" reports on the cover up and calls upon Republicans to put more pressure on the administration in order to find out who was really responsible.

September 23, 2011 - Main Justice: Judiciary Chairman Questions Dual Role of Acting ATF Chief

September 26 - CBS News reports that the White House counsel has responded to a request by Rep. Issa's committee to interview one of the administration officials who received information on Gunwalker. The answer is NO - HE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. The committee wants to interview National Security Advisor Kevin O'Reilly to "determine the extent of the involvement of White House staff in Operation Fast and Furious." The question now is "What is the White House hiding?".

September 26 - Pittsburg Tribune: Fast and Furious: Justice's obstruction

September 26 - Fox News: Government Used Taxpayer Funds to Buy, Sell Weapons During 'Fast and Furious' The bombshell in this report: "This disclosure, revealed in documents obtained by Fox News, could undermine the Department of Justice's previous defense that Operation Fast and Furious was a "botched" operation where agents simply "lost track" of weapons as they were transferred from one illegal buyer to another." Fox News now believes that it is possible that the transfer of weapons to the cartel was deliberate. A much more in depth report on this, from the two reporters who broke the story, can be found here.

September 27, 2011 - The Lakeland FL Times publishes a large article on Gunwalker: Fast and Furious: Who knew what and when did they know it? (NRA leader calls for independent counsel; CBS says third errant gun possibly used in death; Dems call for gun control) It is a comprehensive article that Asks three questions: 1) Who knew what, and when did they know it?, 2) Was the program was intended to be effective in the first place, or whether it was devised as a gun-control scheme?, 3) Are Democratic calls for guns control intended to distract from the scandal?

September 27, 2011 - Several outlets report on an appearance by ATF whistle-blower Vince Cefalu at a townhall meeting in Arizona. Other officials were also present including Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, and Rep. Paul Gosar.

Townhall.com: Fast and Furious: Using Humans as Collateral Damage
Cefalu: "BATFE has become a political entity rather than fulfilling its obligations as a law enforcement agency." - "There are no longer checks and balances within ATF." Babeu: "This scandal will “totally eclipse Watergate,” and made the case that Operation Fast and Furious was used as program to restrict Second Amendment rights for law abiding citizens"

Fox 10 News:
Operation Fast and Furious: Ariz. Lawmakers Want Answers Now

KVOA Tucson Channel 4: Latest on Operation Fast and Furious Rep. Gosar, "We have to have the truth come out, and we need to be told the whole story."

Fox 11 News: Tucson town hall over Fast and Furious Those responsible for the Fast and Furious mess should take note of this: "Gosar says if the House Committee can pinpoint who messed up, those people will be charged." In other words, local AZ authorities are working with Issa's committee and are willing to bring state charges against the responsible Federal officials.

KVOA video report: Tea Party looking for answers in ATF gun mistake

September 27, 2011 - Human Events: Fast and Furious - This is what we know so far

September 27, 2011 - Newsmax: Sen. Grassley: Evidence Shows Government Sold Guns to Underworld

September 27, 2011 - Fox News Video: How Taxpayers Paid to Arm Mexican Drug Cartels - How a series of blunders allowed your money to bankroll and arm cartels in a growing Justice Department scandal

September 27, 2011 - Main Justice Quotes Rep. Issa as saying that the House Oversight and Judiciary committees will hold joint hearings in the near future. They intend to call Eric Holder, Lanny Breuer and former AZ US Attorney Dennis Burke. The continuing reports of Judiciary Committee involvement is a strong indication that this scandal reaches high into the administration. It also takes us one step closer to impeachment.

September 28, 2010 - Forbes publishes a huge article on Gunwalker. The title: "'Fast And Furious' Just Might Be President Obama's Watergate". In the comprehensive article Forbes links the 90% lie to the ATF program to pump guns into Mexico, arguing that the motive for the program was political, with the goal being the justification of further gun control laws in the US.

September 28, 2010 - CBS News: "Congress: Feds failed to share 'critical information' with each other"

September 28, 2010 - Examiner.com (The outlet that first broke the Gunwalker story): Mexican attorney general: "Obama more involved in Fast & Furious than admitted!" All Headline News is running the same story.

September 28, 2010 - Investor's Business Daily publishes a large article that ends with a call to find and punish those responsible, "even if the trail ends at the Oval Office".

September 28, 2010 - The LA Times confirms that an ATF/FBI paid informant smuggled guns across the boarder.

September 28, 2011 - Anderson Cooper interviews Sheriff Paul Babeu, who states that the entire ATF/DOJ chain of command is guilty of acessory to murder. Additional Anderson Cooper report. Additional report by KTAR.

September 29, 2011 - Fox News: Gunrunning Informant Used Taxpayer Money to Buy Drugs, Possibly Guns, Lawmakers Allege

September 28, 2011 - LA Times: Gunwalker guns turn up in El Paso TX

September 29, 2011 - Fox Chicago: Gunrunning Informant Used Taxpayer Money to Buy Drugs, Possibly Guns

September 29, 2011 - Examiner.com: Jim Kouri, Law Enforcement Examiner, reports that there is considerable and growing anger over Gunwalker in the law enforcement community.

September 29, 2011 - The Weekly Standard (Blog): Will the 'Fast and Furious' Scandal Be Obama's Watergate?

September 29, 2011 - The NY Post (editorial): A 'Furious' revelation - Feds sold guns to drug gangs

September 30, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer: In an editorial entitled "Two scandals threaten Obama", the paper comments on the scandal.

September 30, 2011 - Townhall.com: Katie Pavlich publishes her second article on the white paper circulating in the administration that calls for the elimination of ATF. 450 agents would be laid off immediately, in addition to a roughly equal number currently being offered early retirement. These agents would be gone, they would not transferred. ATF's current duties would go to DEA and FBI. The idea is to bame the agents and the agency in order to protect the administration. Pavlich says she has multiple sources.

September 30, 2011 - Examiner.com: In the first confirming article from any media outlet, Anthony Martin confirms that ATF may be on the chopping block. He sites posts at cleanUpATF.org.

September 30, 2011 - Townhall.com: Does Fast and Furious Put Impeachment on The Table?

September 30, 2011 - The NY Post reports on the F&F guns recovered in Texas

September 30, 2011 - BigGovernment.com: Fast and Furious; A Lawless, Tax-Payer Funded (Impeachable?) Offense

September 30, 2011 - In another classic move to limit news coverage, the White House released some - but not all - of the emails between ATF officials and Presidential aides. In addition to the emails that were not disclosed, the released emails indicate that there were multiple phone calls as well.

CBS News
- Sharyl Attkisson of CBS, Blogging on Fox News - Townhall.com (Katie Pavlich) - Politico (Josh Gerstein)

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