My Letter From TN Senator Corker about “Fast and Furious”

Dear Actual Grit,

Thank you for taking the time to contact my office with your concerns involving ‘Operation Fast & Furious’ – an operation under Project Gunrunner run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well as the response of Attorney General Eric Holder. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

As you may know, Project Gunrunner began as an initiative to protect American citizens from Mexican criminal organizations, specifically by preventing their acquisition and trafficking of firearms. Regrettably, in December 2010, an American Border Patrol agent’s life was lost during Operation Fast & Furious. According to whistleblowers, however, this tragedy could have been prevented had ATF been more cautious. I share your concerns that the ATF knowingly permitted firearms to be illegally purchased and distributed to members of these criminal organizations.

On October 19, 2011, I voted for an amendment to H.R.2112, an Appropriations Act, that prohibited funds for Operation Fast & Furious and similar operations. The amendment passed unanimously in the Senate and I am pleased that Senator Grassley and his staff on the Senate Judiciary Committee are continuing to investigate the matter. It is important that the ATF and Justice Department be accountable to Congress and I am keenly following the findings of the Committee.

Regarding the Attorney General, while it is the president’s authority to hire or fire members of his cabinet, such a failure of law enforcement should have serious consequences for all involved.  Further, Congress should continue to ensure the Administration resolves this issue in a way that prevents it from ever happening again.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,
Bob Corker
United States Senator

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