September 20, 2012 by Sam Rolley
UPI FILE
Justice Department investigators contend that Attorney General Eric Holder was not informed of the operation until after the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.
A report released by the Justice Department on Wednesday says that 14 employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives face “disciplinary action” in regard to roles played in the fatally flawed Fast and Furious gunrunning operation, though no criminal charges have been recommended.
The report says that Fast and Furious was plagued by “misguided strategies, tactics, errors in judgment and management failures” on the part of agents, prosecutors and senior ATF officials in Washington. The Justice Department investigators also contend that Attorney General Eric Holder was not informed of the operation until after the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry in December 2010.
Holder said in a statement: “It is unfortunate that some were so quick to make baseless accusations before they possessed the facts about these operations – accusations that turned out to be without foundation and that have caused a great deal of unnecessary harm and confusion. I hope today’s report acts as a reminder of the dangers of adopting as fact unsubstantiated conclusions before an investigation of the circumstances is completed.”
As a result of Fast and Furious roles outlined in the report, Kenneth Melson, the former director of the ATF, retired from the department and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jason Weinstein resigned from his post. The Justice Department has not released further information about the other involved employees.
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