Issa, Grassley, Goodlatte Demand Answers on ATF’s Nationwide Undercover Operations

WASHINGTON – Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) sent a letter late yesterday asking Director B. Todd Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to respond to new questions related to flawed ATF sting operations nationwide.  Recent news reports indicate that ATF has conducted operations that include tactics such as recruiting developmentally disabled individuals and running a sting operation across the street from a middle school.  In light of the botched Fast and Furious and Operation Fearless cases, the use of such tactics by the ATF raises serious questions regarding management failures and a lack of accountability.

“According to the Journal Sentinel, around the approximate time of Operation Fearless, there were at least five other problematic storefront undercover operations being conducted in Portland, Oregon; Wichita, Kansas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; and Pensacola, Florida,” the letter states. “Like Operation Fearless, each of these cases apparently suffered from a lack of sufficient supervision and adequate training in the principles of ethical federal law enforcement.”

“We are appalled by ATF agents’ lack of judgment in recruiting juveniles and developmentally disabled individuals,” the letter continues.

You can read the full letter to ATF here.

January 31, 2013 letter to B. Todd Jones is here.

April 3, 2013 letter to B. Todd Jones is here.

May 10, 2013 letter to B. Todd Jones is here.