Lieberman calls for more power for ATF while abetting ‘Gunwalker’ stonewalling

Still, if Sen. Lieberman is so concerned about semi-automatic rifles wending their way from U.S. gun shops to Mexican cartels, perhaps someone ought to ask him why he’s not demanding full and open hearings into “Project Gunrunner” allegations, and insisting on getting to the bottom of ATF management stonewalling accusations—before insisting on giving them yet more power over the very area where their own employees are saying they can’t be trusted.

Oh, someone has?  And some time ago? [More]

This morning's Gun Rights Examiner column  looks at the principle-devoid poltroon that is the senior senator from Connecticut.

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"Obvious Stonewalling": Savage Finds BATFU in Willful Violation of FOIA Request

Via E-mail :

FOIA request 08-1494

Ms. Graham,

In your final "final response" to my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for "the documents and final determinations of the investigations" of the four closed investigations based on complaints made by myself or on my behalf.

Due to the poor punctuation in the response I can only assume the BATFE disclosure division meant to cite the following, which BATFE contends is exempt from disclosure under the Title 5, United States Code, Section 552(b):

b(5) inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letter which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency;

b(6) personnel and medical files and similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clear and unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

It's a bit hard to envision b(6) as being applicable, as I never asked for personnel or medical files. BATFE can probably justify at least some of b(5); however, I don't see how the disclosure division can lawfully withhold the results of the investigations as I originally requested in September.

This is obvious stonewalling. It appears you are parsing words of the law to prevent the results of the investigations from becoming known. Your office clearly stated: "We are transferring these documents to that federal agency..." In other words your disclosure division admits it had the documents and got rid of them to prevent from complying with my lawful FOIA request? Perhaps another FOIA asking for a budget breakdown of how much money your office and the BATFE spent in man hours and all other expenses while responding to my FOIA request 08-1494 is in order? I would think the results of that would be of great interest to the U.S. Inspector General, the honorable Glenn Fine.

Ms. Graham, please respond to my original FOIA request for "the documents and final determinations of the investigations".

Respectfully,

Len Savage
-----------------
Ain't that something? And note when they want records, they just come in, armed, and seize them.--DC

Stonewalling and Cover-Up?

The congressional report said that an ATF email indicated that ATF officials in Phoenix who knew the two assault rifles came from the controversial operation withheld the information from Mexican officials until June 2011. [More]

What stonewalling and cover-up? 

And just an fyi,William LaJeunesse reported on the connection almost a year ago.

Did Melson make or miss Issa’s Mar. 30 'Gunwalker' deadline?

Chairman Issa wrote a letter to ATF AD Kenneth Melson on Mar. 16 requesting specific information and documentation regarding Project Gunrunner to be provided to his committee "no later than 5:00 pm on March 30, 2011."

Was the information provided by the deadline?

I am seeking a for-the-record quote to share with readers who have been following this story. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report asks a simple enough question, and wonders why a simple "yes" or "no" is so tough to extract from those who decry stonewalling when it happens to them.

GRE Round Up for April 20

Here are the latest offerings from my fellow GREs:

Richard Nascak/Ft. Myers:

• Preemption and open carry bills advance to FL senate floor

Dave Workman/Seattle:

• BREAKING: Angry Issa threatens ATF with contempt over Gunrunner stonewalling

Kurt Hofmann/St. Louis:

• Tobacco, firearms and the BATFE

Also check out these other Liberty-oriented Examiners:

• Cochise County Libertarian
• Conservative
• LA Anti-Establishment
• Michigan Firearms

DOJ stonewalling continues with response to House Judiciary Committee

"Unfortunately, at this time, we are not in a position to answer your questions in greater detail." [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column notes fortune has nothing to do with it.

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Fast and Furious Case Delay REPUBLICAN'S Fault

Right. It's not like Obama has any influence on whether or not continuing resolutions to keep things up and running will be allowed. [More]

Years of stonewalling and who gets blamed?  "Progressives" rely on their tortured bizarrro "logic" being so maddening and so parroted that rational people just throw up their hands in frustration.

I trust no one wonders why the judge would take this position?

Breaking: ATF heeds Issa's 'no retaliation' warning by...retaliating

This appears to be in direct contradiction of assurances Darrell Issa received from ATF which he reminded Deputy Director William Hoover of in his June 21 letter. This, along with the stonewalling Issa's Committee has received demonstrates that the Administration's Justice Department is determined to continue to defy, resist and obstruct the Congress in performing its lawful oversight responsibilities. [More]

Of course you realize this means war.

Call for independent counsel better late than never but false premise continues

“[E]xpecting a truly independent [counsel] to be appointed by a department that is up to its neck in stonewalling and cover-up, by a president whose own role and interests are appropriate for scrutiny, is at best problematic, and at worst a recipe for ensuring those responsible for ‘Project Gunwalker’ are never held accountable for actions that have resulted in human deaths on both sides of the border," this column explained in October, 2011 ... What is needed is to reenact authorization for [an independent counsel], and to maintain such powers under the coequal branch of government comprised of our elected representatives,” the column concluded. “Permanently. Anything less would make the entire investigative effort suspect.” [More]

Today’s Gun Rights Examiner report says “Welcome to the party pals, but put a lid on that ‘botched’ stuff.”

We're the Only Ones Undisclosed Enough

The FBI and investigating law enforcement agencies have declined to identify the other four agents who were on the scene. The FBI spokesman also declined to discuss whether they were still members of HRT or, like Astarita, had been moved to an “administrative capacity.” [More]

Stonewalling? The Feds...?

"You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."

On a tangentially-related note, anybody ever figure out how many hostages the HRT has rescued? Last time I raised that question, some bird of prey feathers got ruffled.

[Via Rough and Ready]

Well, As Long as the Simulation Says It's OK...

In practice, both bodies acted much like sober legislative chambers. [More]

So nobody held sit-ins on the floor when they didn't get their way with infringements, or abetted misdirection and stonewalling over deadly crimes, or were willing participants in subversive activities, or were blatant, in-your-face oath-breakers transparently committed to cultural "cleansing," or..

The domestic enemies in those "sober" chambers don't follow the clear bright lines that exist now. What makes you think you're clever enough to come up with just the right incantation to tame the demons?

You "drafted the rules"?

How cute. How many guns do you have backing you up?

Did you run your rules by the embedded Marxists for a microaggression and white privilege check? How about Hollywood and the editorial boards? And all those politically-appointed federal judges?

Computer: End program. Exit holodeck.

God save me from "smart" people.

[Via Michael G]

Judicial Watch says court ordered DOJ to release Fast & Furious docs index

Well, that oughtta be good for more stonewalling and thumb-nosing. [More]

Any bets against an appeal and a stay, just like we saw with the DC carry law decision?

"Top Men"

The FBI claims that these indispensable pieces of evidence regarding what was at the time the worst terrorist act in U.S. history have simply vanished in the tenebrous depths of an official warehouse, much like the Ark of the Covenant was at the end of the first Indiana Jones film. [More]

One thing about the Justice Department and its functionaries stonewalling in order to suppress the truth--at least they're consistent.

[Via DMJ]

Grassley urges citizens to call reps about 'Project Gunwalker' on Gun Talk Radio

Grassley gives an update on his efforts as well as those of Rep. Darrell Issa of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  Explaining that his Senate Judiciary Committee powers to issue subpoenas are stymied due to Democrat control of the committee, Grassley informed Gresham’s audience he is working closely with Chairman Issa, who does have the subpoena powers to require information from those stonewalling at ATF and the Department of Justice. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column notes a politician trying to do the right thing and asks if each of us are doing what we can and should to support his efforts.

You could start by sharing this link--and then contacting your senators and representative and demanding they get behind Grassley's and Issa's "Gunwalker" investigations.

‘No Fifth Amendment Theater’ in tomorrow’s Holder hearing

Compound this with a return shot from Committee Democrats attempting to absolve their administration allies, an outraged response from Sen. Chuck Grassley of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and yesterday’s stunning, knives-are-out ultimatum by Issa to charge stonewalling Attorney General Eric Holder with contempt of Congress, and it would appear an opportunity to show the American people an ongoing cover-up happening before their eyes may be lost.

And perhaps not. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report notes following a plan by the numbers may not always be theatrical.

Inconvenient truths about Jones’ successor at ATF warrant investigation

Without bringing the original and subsequent work to wider attention -- and the press isn't about to -- most of the public will never hear about it, meaning the corruption, cover-up and stonewalling will continue as the “authorized journalists” run interference. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report notes the new guy is a company man just as capable of going Full BTodd as the outgoing administration lackey.

Ask Obama about Gunwalker

It would be appropriate to see everyone who is outraged by the government's actions, stonewalling and outright lies to get personally involved and to also spread the word about this. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report casts a net using social networks. And what it asks of all of us can be done in mere moments.

Oathbreaker-in-Chief Demands Oaths

“Anyone who does not attest to being fully vaccinated will be required to wear a mask on the job no matter their geographic location, physically distance from all other employees and visitors, comply with a weekly or twice weekly screening testing requirement and be subject to restrictions on official travel,” the White House said in a fact sheet on the new policy, which it released Thursday afternoon. [More]

So if they lie, will they be subject to felony prosecution like Hunter was for lying on a 4473?

What? He wasn't? And the feds are stonewalling?

Holder’s OIG ’Gunwalker’ investigation passes historic milestone today

This leads to the questions of why it’s taking so long, and if the end result will be indicative of the self-serving stonewalling and foot-dragging the Department of Justice has exhibited throughout congressional investigations of “Project Gunwalker.” As things stand, Holder has been able to play the OIG card every time a question he does not wish to answer comes up. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report doesn't wonder why it's taking so long...

Also catch Armed American Radio's Christmas show.

Gunwalker Johnny-come-latelies helping to give Holder an escape route

That’s it? And this is supposed to do what to a dominating, radical agenda-driven career belligerent, backed by his president, his party and his press, who demonstrates his ongoing smirking contempt for their impotence with each day’s continued stonewalling? [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report notes it's past time to  knock off with the words and start up with the sticks and stones.