The head of the ATF has been removed after months of speculation about his role in a botched gun-tracking operation that could have contributed to the death of a Border Patrol agent.◼ Kenneth Melson, acting ATF chief, steps down - Politico
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kenneth Melson was being replaced. Melson is being transferred to the Office of Legal Policy, where he will be a senior adviser.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Todd Jones will take over as acting ATF director, according to the Department of Justice.
In a simultaneous move, the U.S. Attorney for Arizona Dennis Burke announced his resignation on Tuesday. Burke oversaw the legal aspects of the "Fast and Furious" operation, providing advice to agents involved....
Melson's reassignment and Burke's resignation represent the first major investigative victory for Issa, who said he would continue to probe Justice and its botched gun-tracking operation.
“While the reckless disregard for safety that took place in Operation Fast and Furious certainly merits changes within the Department of Justice, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee will continue its investigation to ensure that blame isn’t offloaded on just a few individuals for a matter that involved much higher levels of the Justice Department,” Issa said in a statement.
◼ That Was Fast & Furious: U.S. Attorney For Arizona, Dennis Burke Resigns - kfyi.com
◼ Key "Gun Walker" Figure Loses Top ATF Job - John Hayward at Human Events
Melson is well-known to students of the massive “Gun Walker” scandal, in which the ATF pushed American guns across the border into the hands of Mexican gangs. He was long viewed as the designated fall guy for the Administration, and was widely expected to resign and contain the damage when the scandal broke.
Instead, Melson wound up testifying before congressional investigators, in a surprise Fourth of July appearance. He went on to complain that the Justice Department had misled him about right to testify without DOJ supervision.
Rep. Darrell Issa and Senator Charles Grassley, the lead investigators of the Gun Walker case, were not happy that “Justice Department officials sought to limit and control [Melson’s] communications with Congress.” They went on to warn Attorney General Eric Holder against attempting to retaliate against Melson, or other Gun Walker witnesses.
It's not clear how enthusiastic Melson might be for his new job. The Politico report notes that despite his cooperation, the House Oversight investigation into Gun Walker didn't make him look good... read the rest
