THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION |
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THE VICTIMS of Fast and Furious |
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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Chief Executive of the United States; appointed Attorney General Holder.
Denied his and Holder’s authorization and his knowledge of Fast and
Furious during Univision interview on March 22, 2011. Admitted Fast and
Furious was a mistake, vowed to hold those responsible to account. |
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Agent Brian Terry
Marine veteran, US Border Patrol agent murdered while on patrol near Rio
Rico, AZ on December 15, 2010. Two Fast and Furious guns, purchased by
known straw buyer Jaime Avila, recovered at murder scene. Despite clear
evidence, AG Holder has denied Fast and Furious link to Agent Terry’s
murder. |
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Attorney General (AG) Eric Holder
America’s top law enforcement official. Claimed no knowledge of Fast and
Furious before it became a scandal. Received at least 7 memos in 2010
discussing Fast and Furious by name; says he doesn’t read memos
addressed to him – hasn’t said who reads them. |
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The American People
Have a right to know truth about Fast and Furious, which put American
lives in danger at home and in Mexico. “Will face effects [of Fast and
Furious] for years to come as guns that were lost…continue to show up at
crime scenes,” according to AG Holder. Mislead by repeated false Obama
Administration statements on Fast and Furious. |
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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Responsible for Fast and Furious, shifting investigative focus from gun
buyers to cartels in Fall 2009. Responsible for ATF, FBI, DEA, and US
Attorneys; approved all ATF gun trafficking wiretaps. Failed to end Fast
and Furious; stonewalling Congressional oversight by producing limited
and sometimes false information |
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Accountable Government
Eroded by Operation Fast and Furious. Goal of Congressional investigation. |
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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
Enforces federal gun laws; regulates federally licensed gun dealers. In
October 2009, Phoenix ATF office launched what would become its largest
gun trafficking case: Operation Fast and Furious. Adopted reckless
investigative techniques of gun-walking, failing to intercept weapons,
failing to track guns. |
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The Mexican People
At least 150 murdered by Fast and Furious weapons. Already low trust in
the United States worsened by deadly results of Operation Fast and
Furious. |
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STRAW PURCHASERS
American residents who illegally purchase weapons on behalf of Mexican
drug cartels. Most straw purchasers get nothing more than probation.
Twenty have been indicted as a result of Fast and Furious |
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Mexico
Shares porous border with United States and suffers from growing drug
cartel violence. US government helped fuel Mexican violence, allowing
straw purchasers to buy approximately 2000 assault-type weapons, many of
which walked into Mexico. Kept in the dark about Fast and Furious by
the US government. |
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ATF Group VII Agents
Protested reckless gun walking techniques pushed by their bosses. Some
became whistleblowers, alerting Senator Grassley and Chairman Issa to
Fast and Furious. Several testified before congress, expressing outrage
and remorse over Fast and Furious. |
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Marisela Morales
Top Mexican law enforcement official since March 31, 2011. Kept in the
dark about Fast and Furious by US government, furious when finally
informed of the program. Efforts negatively impacted by Fast and
Furious. |
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STRAW PURCHASERS
American residents who illegally purchase weapons on behalf of Mexican
drug cartels. Most straw purchasers get nothing more than probation.
Twenty have been indicted as a result of Fast and Furious |
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FBI/DEA/ICE
Participated in Fast and Furious but lacked operational control.
Informants involved in Fast and Furious, causing disputes with ATF.
Participated in Fast and Furious strike force with ATF Phoenix office. |
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Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler
Received detailed Fast and Furious briefing March 12, 2010 as acting
Deputy Attorney General; currently Holder’s Chief of Staff. Unanswered
questions about what he did or didn’t tell AG Holder about Operation
Fast and Furious and why. Handwrote notes on documents demonstrating
intimate knowledge of Fast and Furious. |
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Justice Department Inspector General’s Office
Encouraged Justice Department to pursue risky strategies in
gun-smuggling investigations. Appointed on February 28, 2011 to
investigate Fast and Furious serious questions about impartiality. |
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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Claimed no knowledge of Fast and Furious. Admitted DHS, on at least two
occasions, assisted ATF in letting guns walk into Mexico. Testified that
she has never discussed Fast and Furious with AG Holder, despite deaths
of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. |
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Lanny Breuer
Head of Justice Department’s Criminal Division, senior aide to AG
Holder, defended former President Clinton during impeachment. Lauded
Fast and Furious before scandal broke. His office approved several
Phoenix ATF wiretaps for Operation Fast and Furious. |
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United States Attorneys
Along with ATF and DOJ, responsible for failing to arrest straw
purchasers and end Fast and Furious. Encouraged and approved
irresponsible Fast and Furious investigative techniques. Led
multi-agency Fast and Furious Strike Force, including ATF, FBI, DEA,
IRS, and ICE. |
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White House Staff
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Joen Brennan led June
2010 high-level discussion in Phoenix on gun trafficking. O’Reilly
shared information on Phoenix gun trafficking cases with National
Security Staff. Former National Security Staffer Kevin O’Reilly
frequently communicated about Fast and Furious with Phoenix ATF official
Bill Newell. |
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