ATF official: I told the White House about Fast & Furious
posted at 10:45 am on July 27, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
What did Barack Obama know about Operation Fast and Furious, and when did he know it? Rep. Darrell Issa’s committee uncovered an explosive nugget of information from the subpoena of ATF e-mail, which went public in yesterday’s hearings. The ATF manager of the Phoenix office notified a White House official of Operation Fast and Furious as an update on the overall Project Gunrunner effort, connecting the controversial operation directly to the White House for the first time:
At a lengthy hearing on ATF’s controversial gunwalking operation today, a key ATF manager told Congress he discussed the case with a White House National Security staffer as early as September 2010. The communications were between ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix office, Bill Newell, and White House National Security Director for North America Kevin O’Reilly. Newell said the two are longtime friends. The content of what Newell shared with O’Reilly is unclear and wasn’t fully explored at the hearing. …
Congressional investigators obtained an email from Newell to O’Reilly in September of last year in which Newell began with the words: “you didn’t get this from me.”
“What does that mean,” one member of Congress asked Newell, ” ‘you didn’t get this from me?’ ”
“Obviously he was a friend of mine,” Newell replied, “and I shouldn’t have been sending that to him.”
Issa asked him why O’Reilly would have been asking about Project Gunrunner, the overall interdictment effort, but that’s fairly clear. As a national-security advisor with responsibility for North America, the cartels in Mexico would be one of the primary threats O’Reilly would watch. O’Reilly told Newell that he planned to travel to Mexico to work on the issue, which would explain the need for an update.
What’s less clear is why Newell informed him with the caveat “you didn’t get this from me”. Why wouldn’t the ATF report on Fast and Furious results to the White House when asked? Was Newell told to avoid linking the operation directly to the White House, or was the ATF worried about the implications of the operation even before it blew up in their faces? Given the hostility towards Congressional oversight already demonstrated at the ATF and Department of Justice during this investigation, this looks like even more evidence that the Obama administration let the ATF run wild, perhaps on purpose.
The more important question will be who O’Reilly told at the White House about the operation. Clearly, O’Reilly wanted the information to prepare for key meetings on a very sensitive subject. It’s hard to believe that O’Reilly would have kept that information to himself. Issa’s committee needs to get O’Reilly into the hearing and on the record, and it may be time to subpoena some White House records, too.
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Eric Holder.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Janet Napolitano.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Hillary Clinton
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:05 PM
William Jefferson Clinton
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
In the end, did they break the law? It sounds like bonehead decisions, but I would say that they basically have the right to put AK-47s into circulation in Mexico, right?
It will definitely hurt his reelection, but I don’t see an impeachment.
jeffn21 on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Barack Hussein Obama
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
I fail to understand how people think this is somehow accidental on the part of the WH. He wanted a well armed “civilian” militia. He said so. And who in his “base” can he arm? Not the traditional gun shy libs, that’s for sure. Criminals. And LaRaza types who stand for square behind or “undocumented” problems.
clnurnberg on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
I think you were referring to gang warfare in Mexico, but somewhere I read some a story indicating guns were also walked directly into the hands of U.S. gangs in Philadelphia and perhaps other American cities. I first read about that a month ago. When I searched earlier today I couldn’t find the story.
flyfisher on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
If you have copies of the scrubbed info, why are you sitting on it?
Get it to where it will do the most good, in the light.
roy_batty on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
William Daley
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Valerie Jarrett
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Look at all the roaches!
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:07 PM
You are completely out of line. I am not a fan nor a supporter of this administration as anyone who takes the time to read my posts will know.
Disappear? Really? I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that you think I’m trying to target you. For what?
I wish you all the best in your endeavors and I certainly bear you no ill will, despite you resorting to name calling. “biatch” is pretty transparent.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:08 PM
No, it was Melson. Melman was on Letterman.
roy_batty on July 27, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Yes, they broke the law, because 2 of the buyers had felony convictions already. They were still allowed to buy weapons.
Del Dolemonte on July 27, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Good point.
Wonder where all the flash mob’s are coming from?
Look, its Eric Holder’s People!
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:09 PM
This seems a bit incoherent. Who are you addressing?
a capella on July 27, 2011 at 12:09 PM
My point exactly.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Errr. You sound too much like Anthony Weiner. I went to school with that as*hole so I have no affinity.
Show yourself, ya dirty bastige.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Don’t feed the troll.
He either has what he says or can go back under his bridge.
If he has what he says he’ll use it.
roy_batty on July 27, 2011 at 12:11 PM
As I posted on another thread on this:
The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) apply to agencies and agents of the US Government as well as to individual citizens and private corporations. Trafficking, or facilitating the trafficking of arms to foreign countries without Dept. of State certification carries severe penalties. Ordering, or even approving of, such a clear violation of US law surely qualifies as a “high crime or misdemeanor”.
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 12:11 PM
He was addressing me. Apparently asking about this cache of documents he claims to be sitting on made me a lackey of the current administration.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Ooof.
I have never been so UN afraid of a bunch of nasty ass man pooswahs.
Come on! Go at it, ya little bitches.
This is wonderful
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Thanks. I have to admit being quite taken back by the outrage.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:13 PM
No, to use obamunist parlance, crimes and startlingly bad decisions are merely “boneheaded”. I detest that obama-isms have crept into day to day speech
clnurnberg on July 27, 2011 at 12:13 PM
“FILL THE JAILS…!!!”
Seven Percent Solution on July 27, 2011 at 12:13 PM
The little pres will spill the jails onto the streets and they will become his armed militia.
clnurnberg on July 27, 2011 at 12:15 PM
It is rather odd posting behavior,..a little out of pattern for KWR. Don’t worry about it.
a capella on July 27, 2011 at 12:15 PM
By the way, I read all the links that you posted. Just thought you should know. Leaving now.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:15 PM
In April 2009 Eric Holder took credit for assigning ATFE agents to Phoenix to “deal with” straw purchaes. This was the start of “Fast & Furious”. Holder knew about it and took credit for it.
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Follow the money.
pedestrian on July 27, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Startlingly bad decisions may be merely “boneheaded”; however, crimes are crimes and when it comes down to it they can’t dance around that. ITAR and other laws are very clear.
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Bingo! Nice find. Be nice if you could get this to Rush or even Hannity.
a capella on July 27, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Holder trapped himself under that comment. He admitted knowing about it then, it is unfathomable that he never inquired on status after.
roy_batty on July 27, 2011 at 12:19 PM
The NY Times article I referenced was written following a visit to Mexico by Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano in 2009. Two cabinet members travel to Mexico together for a law enforcement conference and the result is “Fast & Furious”. It beggars belief that their boss had no idea they were colluding on this.
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM
I assume Newell and Cooley would have been there. Maybe too far down the food chain?
a capella on July 27, 2011 at 12:34 PM
In the end, did they break the law? It sounds like bonehead decisions, but I would say that they basically have the right to put AK-47s into circulation in Mexico, right?
It will definitely hurt his reelection, but I don’t see an impeachment.
jeffn21 on July 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Are your sureal?
“They basically have the right to put AK-47s into circulation in Mexico”
Excuse while I check to see I slipped into an alternative dimension where lawbreaking is de rigueur.
You’re excusing this administration’s insertion of guns into a sovereign nation.
That action would at least be illegal if not an act of war.
NMRN123 on July 27, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Good. Take it to Holder.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Gungate I
ErnstBlofeld on July 27, 2011 at 12:38 PM
The bottom line is this: There is factual evidence to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Obama Administration attempted to undermine the 2nd Amendment through submersive activities.
In the end, the Obama Administration armed, aided and helped Mexican Drug Cartels and Gangs kill their own people and some of ours.
There is no doubt. Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Barack Huseein Obama funded this plan.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Issa knows Holder is a lying sack, and lied under oath.
Rebar on July 27, 2011 at 12:43 PM
The way the idiot Eric Holder worms out of that is by claiming that he of course knew about the old President George W. Bush-era Gunwalker program, not the more recent Fast and Furious. That will be his best defense.
slickwillie2001 on July 27, 2011 at 12:44 PM
And let me say this again:
There is a ton of evidence that will implicate Holder and OBAMA and Hillary Clinton.
America knows you’ve tried to abolish the 2nd Amendment.
The evidence at hand implicates Hillary and Barack, and OMG Bill. It’s all in black and white. Through .pdf’s and emails and DVD’s and CD’s. and everything else? Eh.
I say we run Barack for re-election. yes. That’s the ticket.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:45 PM
No, that won’t work for Eric.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM
http://sadhillnews.com/2011/07/09/eric-holder-bragged-about-operation-gunrunner-in-2009
This link has a screen shot of the Dept. of Justice’s prepared remarks in the April 2, 2009 Mexico/U.S. Arms Trafficking Conference. Holder referenced Napolitano, the DEA, and the FBI in their “major new effort to break the back of the cartels” as well as the 100 new agents added to ATF’s Project Gunrunner.
Holder knew and he lied to Congress.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM
We need to get beyond the administration’s motive for running “Fast & Furious”, whether it was done to subvert the 2nd Amendment or for other reasons is irrelevant and becomes an ideological argument. We also need to get beyond the emotional argument of the deaths of not only a US Border Patrol agent, but also Mexican citizens. Legally, they are irrelevant also. We must focus our attention on the clear violations of the law, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and others. It is only through proving violations of law that those within the administration wh orchestrated this can be brought down and brought to justice.
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 12:48 PM
I posted this in the headlines, but it was tanked. Well, it bit the dust. So if you are still reading:
Thanks, actually I had forgotten the name. I remember how awful it was. No reason for them to corner those people in Idaho.
Then Waco. They sure saved the people, didn’t they? At least that was their excuse for going in guns blazing.
No one has had to answer for either and as I remember the msm didn’t make much of it, since it was their guy. And since they were made out to be kooks!
I wonder what’s happened to that family? Or what was left of it.
Bambi on July 27, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Bambi on July 27, 2011 at 12:49 PM
bitsy on July 27, 2011 at 12:51 PM
The ATF, CIA, FBI and WH plans for arming our enemies is enough.
The Obama Administration actually funded and ARMED mexican drug cartels.
Question: If Obama is willing to arm Mexicans, is he openly inviting them to invade our Country?
And, if so? What are the implications for such a move.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM
People are going to wonder why and we have to recognize that ideologues like Obama and Holder don’t care about “scrambling eggs” to get the end result they want. Besides, people should be furious. I’ll leave it to Issa to deal with the legal violations, I want people outraged that this was done out of our our Federal Government agencies using taxpayer dollars. OUTRAGED.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM
If this “issue” is not fully vetted and all those responsible held accountable for the all the deaths, violations of law, and treaties…
… then th political cover up will shatter the foundation of law that this country was built upon, and the ‘Unintended Consequences’ may just be too great to imagine.
I mean, why the he%l stop at a stop sign anymore. Pay for food, why? That chick over there looks pretty good to me. Too bad you brought a knife to a gun fight.
Seven Percent Solution on July 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Yes. With Homeland Security also in the mix, the fallout could be profound.
a capella on July 27, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Hey, Girl… Nice talking points
Give Eric a hug from me.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 12:58 PM
So, what is Issa’s next step? If he knows Holder is lying and has proof, what does he do?
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 12:58 PM
I think you have a reading comprehension problem. Best of luck with that.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Ummm… aren’t you two on the same side on this?
Chip on July 27, 2011 at 1:02 PM
The bottom line is this:
The Federal Government, under Eric Holder and Barack Obama armed known terrorists with American guns.
Now, they’re saying everything’s okay because they’re just “Mexicans”. So, we should all just roll over and be assured that “mexican terrorists are better tha islamist terrorists”. Okay.
Yes, we’ll just keep on sleepin. And you muther fukrers count on that, and we’ll see who wins in the end.
/
Nothing wrong with that, right?
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 1:02 PM
Don’t forget Geithner and Big Sis. The IRS and the Treasury Dept were also in the know–this came out yesterday. I think it was in the headlines last night.
INC on July 27, 2011 at 1:11 PM
You can bet they were told to avoid any detectable link to the White House!
Again, such a dangerous invasive operation as moving guns to criminals inside a sovereign country had to have an Okay from the top. This insanely planned & botched outrage should be grounds to impeach this dangerously incompetent president.
Chessplayer on July 27, 2011 at 1:12 PM
The man wants to be a dictator.
clnurnberg on July 27, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Bingo.
petefrt on July 27, 2011 at 1:14 PM
I think this will slowly unwind the way Watergate did. The WH is clearly implicated. Too many depts were involved. It strains credulity to think, what? 5 depts?—Justice, Homeland Security, Treasury, State—would have all decided on their own to do this.
INC on July 27, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Sorry, that’s only four. I was thinking there was another one.
INC on July 27, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Exactly. Issa needs to be a pitbull on this. Grab on, chomp down, and don’t let go.
infidel4life on July 27, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Don’t know about HA, but I’d sure like them.
mulefool@hotmail.com
katy the mean old lady on July 27, 2011 at 1:24 PM
What docs are you speaking of?
tetriskid on July 27, 2011 at 1:27 PM
Holder is the 2nd biggest thug in the land.
Schadenfreude on July 27, 2011 at 1:32 PM
It maybe wishful thinking but I think Issa is a pitbull. I also think the distraction of the budget crap works in his favor, in two ways. The egomaniacs in this administration think that no one is paying attention and that they will skate through with this like they have so many other things. To a point, they are right, it is tough to pay attention to this when it is all budget all the time but hopefully this is allowing Issa to go full steam ahead.
ORconservative on July 27, 2011 at 1:35 PM
.
January 2008, Obama ‘intends to make it happen’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=finLcdfJVG0
mrt721 on July 27, 2011 at 1:36 PM
He says he has printouts of stories which were scrubbed from the net (i think – it’s on the first comment page).
gh on July 27, 2011 at 1:43 PM
Scroll back to about here. From there on, it gets a bit foggy. Apparently, they wil be made available upon request from HA.
a capella on July 27, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Obviously the Congresscritter is unaware of back-channel communications, and has never talked to a reporter on Deep Background…
Sarcasm aside, this is an email between Bill and Kevin, good friends, not an email between the ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix office, and the White House National Security Director for North America. In government like any large company, there are Lines of Communication for Official Information, and if you cross the lines, or hop-scotch up them, Bad Things happen to you.
This email can be paraphrased as “Dude! Can you believe we’re doing this? Have you heard anything about it up at your end of the grapevine?”
Georgfelis on July 27, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Bump. Good work, T. Thanks.
petefrt on July 27, 2011 at 2:01 PM
I think your Administration has a credibility problem. Best of luck with that.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Yes.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 2:05 PM
I also have information relating to the under handed dealings of Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s sister.
If anyone’s interested. It’s free.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 2:08 PM
Key West Reader: take a day or two off. Your posts and reactions to others here do not make sense. You are usually very coherent. Take a break.
carbon_footprint on July 27, 2011 at 2:14 PM
LOL, which is why the first words in the e-mail were “you didn’t get this from me.”
Del Dolemonte on July 27, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Good advice. Well taken.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Good. Like most here, I value your comments too. Contact Rush, Glenn, Fox, Issa, etc. Then rest up and hurry back.
petefrt on July 27, 2011 at 2:27 PM
this is really really getting big every day. wow.
ted c on July 27, 2011 at 3:17 PM
Nixon lied, no one died.
Obama lied, people died.
I think I remember hearing something like that before. But where?
shick on July 27, 2011 at 3:27 PM
Hoping soon Rush, Glenn, Breitbart, Boss Emeritus, and other heavy hitters will jump on it. Glad to see it getting proper attention here at HA.
petefrt on July 27, 2011 at 3:30 PM
I’ll let you know who answer that.
Del Dolemonte on July 27, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Nixon’s only crime was trying to protect his staff people. He did not know about Watergate until after it happened and he still walked the plank for it. Whether Obama knew or not you can bet he won’t protect anyone except himself. It is going to get real crowded under the bus on this one.
duff65 on July 27, 2011 at 3:50 PM
petefrt on July 27, 2011 at 2:01 PM
To give you an idea about ITAR. We had a specialist come in and explain the Regs and what they mean, since as engineers we sometimes talk to all kinds of people, and sell parts worldwide. This was like a 1/2 day lecture.
Example1: If you sell a valve to someone in Canada you HAVE TO ASK where this part will end up. Because said valve MIGHT be used in a centrifuge or something. The vendor has to send us a document stating that our part will not end up in N.Korea or something.
Example2: Say we sell a foam cup to the Army. Now, say the Army wants thier cups painted green. IF I tell someone over the phone how we paint them green … I have just violated ITAR. My company gets nailed, and I am PERSONALLY liable (fines, courts, prison).
ITAR is some seriously effed up crap. But if we can use it as a bludgeon then fine, they made the rules, not me.
Reference:
http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/regulations_laws/itar_official.html
orbitalair on July 27, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Sure, ITAR is an extremely complicated set of regulations when it comes down to export licenses and end use concerns over widgets that could wind up in a machine that makes engine parts for a plane that might one day be sold to the Chinese for re-sale to the N. Korean military. Trust me, I deal with ITAR all the time too and I know.
But, at its basic level ITAR was designed to prevent international trafficking in weapons withour proper certifications, and it applies to US government agents and agencies as well as private corporations. If DOJ, DHS, Treasury, et. were involved in a conspiracy to traffic weapons illegally into Mexico it’s a clear ITAR violation and there you have your violation of the law to hang them on
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 4:12 PM
crr6 is funny.
shick on July 27, 2011 at 4:13 PM
Depends where you are and what nationality the person you’re talking to is and/or where they are! But sure, disclosing how you make army cups green to someone outside the US by phone, internet, or casual conversation, could be a violation. Complicated ain’t it. That’s why we have lawyers poring over every foreign transaction we make
Trafalgar on July 27, 2011 at 4:15 PM
Thanks for re-posting here, Bambi. Glad you saw my other post.
BATFE and the FBI have the misfortune to have missions that often have major political repercussions. As a result, those agencies are constantly under pressure from political appointees to further political agendas. Mix in some lower level incompetents eager to ingratiate themselves to the powers that be, and you have a recipe for disaster. It is no coincidence that two of the bloodiest law enforcement travesties in our history involved the BATF and the FBI.
Look folks, it isn’t hard to connect he dots, despite the Obbama crews’ best efforts to conceal what they were up to.
Holder and Napolitano are behind this criminal conspiracy, and Obama certainly gave his approval. They all went to Mexico and bragged on their efforts. Obama reassured Jim Brady that he was working on gun control “under the radar”.
Holder gave operational control of Fast and Furious to the US Attorney in Phoenix, Dennis Burke, with the toady SAC Newell passing on his orders.
Burke is a former aide to — Janet Napolitano.
They cut out most of the BATFE. In DC, the lynchpin was McMahon, Deputy Assistant Director for Field Operations, West, who sat on all the complaints and reports coming from agents not under Newll’s and Burke’s thumbs in Phoenix. They had to cut out the line BATFE guys, because as we have seen from their testimony, they would never have stood for “gunwalking”.
Newell and McMahon obviously realize their only chance of survival is if their bosses survive too. That is why they refused to name the person responsible for “Fast and Furious”, and why they both attempted to defend the operation. This operation involved several cabinet level agencies, and while it reeks of Eric Holder, even he could not have done it by himself.
novaculus on July 27, 2011 at 4:35 PM
Look, I am am long time lurker, infrequent commenter. I have no idea what I said to set you off, but I have long enjoyed your comments, so it was a punch in the gut to be called an Obama team member by you.
Wish you the best.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Please accept my sincere apology. I’m sorry that I misread you. No excuses here, but I’ve been following this issue for over a year.
Again, my apology.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 5:03 PM
I’m glad you folks got that straightened out. It was confusing and distracting, and it is all too rarely nowadays that people get sideways but maintain enough composure to work it out. Thanks.
novaculus on July 27, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Hill and Bill.
Key West Reader on July 27, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Time to put Obama under Oath and look into perjury charges against Holder…
clement on July 27, 2011 at 5:20 PM
I can understand how passionately you feel about this topic. It is very easy these days, I’m afraid, to get so angry I see red at every turn. Apology accepted, no harm done.
piglet on July 27, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Funny like a root canal.
Del Dolemonte on July 27, 2011 at 5:39 PM
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