Must-see Videos: Rep. Trey Gowdy eviscerates ICE Director and DHS Under Secretary for releasing prisoners

When it was learned that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which reports to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), released thousands of illegal alien prisoners and blamed sequestration, it was a source of outrage. That outrage was not lost on Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) who, in his role as a member of the House Judiciary Committee absolutely spanked ICE Director John Morton and DHS Under Secretary for Management, Rafael Borras.

Gowdy is one of the few members of Congress who gives one hope that all is not lost. If only we had this kind of fire from Republican leaders in both Houses.

First up, John Morton...



Next, Rafael Borras...

Video: Darrell Issa interview on CNN about Fast and Furious

This interview between Anderson Cooper and Rep. Darrell Issa aired right after the news report on ICE Agent Jaime Zapata's murder. As was the case in that report, this interview was very fair. We also appear to be seeing a significant change in focus from Issa. In particular, we could be watching a new strategy whereby Issa's committee is going to dismantle the DOJ narrative that says Fast and Furious was solely an operation birthed and run out of Arizona.

The circumstances surrounding Zapata's murder increasingly point to a Fast and Furious type operation being run out of Texas as well. If proven, some very powerful people within the Obama administration will be in a world of hurt.

Via CNN:

CNN Report on Fast and Furious: Someone is Lying

Last night on AC 360, coverage of the Fast and Furious scandal was very well done. It started with a segment on the murder of ICE Agent Jaime Zapata, which also explored the possibility that a Fast and Furious style operation took place in Texas and ultimately led to Zapata's death. The man convicted of trafficking one of the guns used in Zapata's death - Manuel Barba - was also presented in the CNN report. Barba is key because documents show the ATF had him under surveillance before he purchased the gun used in Zapata's murder.

Notice in the video - at the  3:40 mark - that reporter Drew Griffin makes the claim that the ATF said it "didn't even know of Barba's existence" until after Zapata's murder. That is an astonishing claim in light of the fact that a letter from Rep. Darrell Issa and Senator Charles Grassley to Attorney General Eric Holder showed that the ATF had Barba under surveillance before he even purchased the weapon. I wrote about that here but this is the relevant excerpt from the letter which flies in the face of what Griffin says the ATF told him:

Now, news reports indicate that this may have been an issue with a purchaser of another one of the weapons found at Agent Zapata’s murder scene.[5]  Records indicate that ATF opened a case against Manuel Barba in June 2010,[6] approximately two months before he took possession on August 20, 2010, of the rifle which was later trafficked to Mexico and also used in the murder of Agent Zapata.[7]  Additionally, the documents show that ATF had indications in October 2010 that Barba was obliterating serial numbers on weapons, the possession of which would have been a prosecutable offense.[8]  At least as of December 13, 2010, ATF also was aware that Barba was still under indictment for a 2006 state case, and thus had been unlawfully receiving firearms while under indictment.[9]  However, a warrant was not issued for Barba’s arrest in this case until February 14, 2011.[10]

Issa and Grassley cited an article written by CBS' Sharyl Attkisson as their source for the claim that the ATF had been tracking Barba months before he purchased the weapons in question. Yet, the ATF told CNN they were unaware of Barba's existence?

Here is the relevant excerpt from Attkisson's February 22nd article:

In a related development, CBS News has obtained documents showing that Barba was under ATF surveillance for at least six months before a rifle he trafficked was used in Zapata's murder. Zapata's government vehicle was ambushed by suspected cartel thugs in Mexico Feb. 15, 2011.

Here is Griffin's report on the murder of Zapata which, to this point, has not been given the attention that has been given to Terry's murder. It looks like that reality is changing. That could also mean that Issa's Committee is turning its focus to ATF's role in another murder of a federal agent.



***CORRECTION 3/17*** In the story above, I erroneously stated that Drew Griffin reported the ATF claimed not to have known of Barba's existence until after Zapata's murder. That was incorrect. The ATF told Griffin they hadn't learned of Barba's existence until after he purchased the gun used in Zapata's murder. However, that claim doesn't jibe with Attkisson's report either. According to her February 22nd story, the ATF had Barba under surveillance beginning in June of 2010; Barba took delivery of the murder weapon on August 20th.

Video Outrage: Illegal Aliens ID themselves as such while disrupting North Carolina legislature

Wanna know how insanely lax our immigration enforcement is? Look no further than North Carolina. At a State Assembly meeting, illegal aliens donned orange shirts that said, "Undocumented and Unafraid" and disrupted the state's legislative business.

In a sane world, such people would be hiding out of fear that they would be deported but in the Obama world, there is no such fear. According one report, none of these people were subsequently deported, which is what should have happened.

As for the mantra on their t-shirts, it apparently hasn't dawned on these illegal aliens that the reason they are so "unafraid" is because they know they can get away with it. If they're so courageous, why don't they go to their home countries and protest their government on issues that cause them to leave in the first place?

It would be a whole lot easier to have compassion for these people if they weren't so arrogant, rude, and disrespectful to the country that is giving them a better life.

How about a dose of humility, whackos?

Via Breitbart:

ATF Implicated in another DHS Agent's Death; Where is Napolitano's Outrage?

This new development could indicate that Rep. Darrell Issa and Senator Chuck Grassley have come into possession of the best evidence yet that ICE Agent Jaime Zapata's murder was a direct result of an ATF Fast and Furious type operation. It involves a man named Manuel Barba, whom I posted about here last week. Barba had been convicted of trafficking a weapon connected to Zapata's death without the Zapata family being notified. That is noteworthy in itself.

On the heels of that astonishing news, Issa and Grassley have sent another letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and it contains information that may indicate exactly why the DOJ wanted to let Barba's prosecution fly under the radar.

To this point, there have been three other men with ties to guns that were used in Zapata's murder but they reportedly weren't under ATF surveillance at the time. Though they had plenty of reason to be. The names of those three other men are Otilio and Rafael Osorio and Kelvin Morrison. The addition of Barba to this grouping may point directly to a Fast and Furious style operation that led to Zapata's murder, which would seemingly contradict a statement made by an ATF spokesman.

Here is a portion of the letter to Holder I had sitting in my inbox from Issa Press Secretary Becca Watkins this morning:

ATF has tried to distinguish this case from Operation Fast and Furious and to justify its failure to intervene.  In one news article on the Osorio brothers, ATF North Texas spokesperson Tom Crowley is quoted as saying: “[T]aking them down and arresting them at that time would have possibly jeopardized that investigation. . . . None of the tactics used in this investigation were anything similar to what was used in Arizona’s Fast and Furious, including intentionally walking firearms across the border.”[4]  Yet failure to conduct surveillance of individuals known to be trafficking weapons to Mexico was a core problem with the tactics used in Fast and Furious.  Lack of surveillance is what allowed such firearms to reach the border.  The same irresponsible tactic appears to have been used in this matter.

Prior to what's been learned about Barba, the primary difference between Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry's murder and the murder of Zapata was that the ATF was literally shown to have been holding the smoking gun in Terry's murder. The ATF had foreknowledge of the gun used in Terry's being 'walked' into Mexico after operation Fast and Furious permitted it.

To this point, Zapata's case didn't reveal the same smoking gun. Remember, the Osorio brothers, along with Morrison, hadn't been put under surveillance so the ATF had an out.

However, Barba was a different story. Again, from the letter:

Now, news reports indicate that this may have been an issue with a purchaser of another one of the weapons found at Agent Zapata’s murder scene.[5]  Records indicate that ATF opened a case against Manuel Barba in June 2010,[6] approximately two months before he took possession on August 20, 2010, of the rifle which was later trafficked to Mexico and also used in the murder of Agent Zapata.[7]  Additionally, the documents show that ATF had indications in October 2010 that Barba was obliterating serial numbers on weapons, the possession of which would have been a prosecutable offense.[8]  At least as of December 13, 2010, ATF also was aware that Barba was still under indictment for a 2006 state case, and thus had been unlawfully receiving firearms while under indictment.[9]  However, a warrant was not issued for Barba’s arrest in this case until February 14, 2011.[10]

The February 14th date is significant because Zapata was murdered one day later. It was also two months to the day, after Brian Terry had been murdered.

We could be seeing a new line of attack from Issa and Grassley here. There has been a narrative pushed by the Democrats that Issa has been on a witch hunt against Eric Holder and has had far too many hearings. This isn't the least bit true since each hearing has consisted of perjury, stonewalling, or both. Hearings should continue until they can take place without such things.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano becomes increasingly more important as Zapata's murder is tied directly to an ATF operation similar to Fast and Furious. Border Patrol Agent Terry and ICE Agent Zapata were both agents under the purview of Napolitano's Department. She hasn't appeared the least bit outraged at the DOJ or ATF despite Terry's murder being the direct result of an ATF operation.

Now that evidence is coming out that Zapata's murder could be directly tied to the ATF in a very similar way, Napolitano's lack of outrage could be a red flag twice the size.

Here is the text of what I sent to Issa's office after receiving the joint letter to Holder:

Becca, 

In a sane world, DHS Secretary would be siding with Oversight committee instead of deferring to DOJ IG.

Two of her agents confirmed dead as a result of ATF?

Where is Ms. Napolitano's outrage? She appears to be more agitated with Republican congressional investigators than with those responsible for her agents' deaths. 

Thanks for sending. 

I believe they call that "dishonor" in the military.

Gun in ICE Agent's death linked to ATF Operation

Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and ICE agent Jaime Zapata were both murdered in the line of duty. Terry's death seems to have gotten more attention for two reasons. One, he was gunned down inside the U.S. border with Mexico. Two, the guns found at his murder scene came from ATF's Operation Fast and Furious, a gun-walking operation sanctioned by Terry's government. Zapata was killed in Mexico and the origin of the guns used to kill him were not proven to have been as closely connected to the ATF.

Well, thanks to CBS' Sharyl Attkisson, one of the guns used in Zapata's murder has now been proven to have come from an ATF operation. A suspicious aspect to this involves a conviction of the man who possessed the gun and Zapata's family never knew he was implicated in the murder.

Via CBS:

Prosecutors recently sentenced a Texas man, Manuel Barba, for trafficking a weapon connected to the murder of Immigration and Customs (ICE) Agent Jaime Zapata. Nobody was more astonished to learn of the case than Zapata's parents, who didn't know that Barba had been arrested or linked to their son's murder.

"The family was obviously surprised to learn that there was a case involving a weapon linked to the Zapata incident," attorney Trey Martinez told CBS News. Martinez represents Zapata's parents and the surviving ICE agent in the assault, Victor Avila. "They were surprised they had never been contacted in the capacity as victims so they could give a response or some kind of reaction at the time of sentencing."

Perhaps this goes a long way in explaining why the Zapata family was kept in the dark...

In a related development, CBS News has obtained documents showing that Barba was under ATF surveillance for at least six months before a rifle he trafficked was used in Zapata's murder. Zapata's government vehicle was ambushed by suspected cartel thugs in Mexico Feb. 15, 2011.

Documents indicate ATF opened its case against Barba, entitled "Baytown Crew," in June of 2010. During the investigation, court records state Barba recruited straw purchasers and "facilitated the purchase and exportation of at least 44 firearms" including assault rifles. On August 20, 2010 Barba took delivery of the WASR-10 semi-automatic rifle later used in Zapata's murder, obliterated its serial number, and sent it to Mexico with nine others just like it. Nearly two months later, on Oct. 8, 2010, ATF agents recorded a phone call in which Barba "spoke about the final disposition of ... firearms to Mexico and also about the obliterating of the serial numbers before they were trafficked." Barba told straw purchasers the guns were destined for the Zeta drug cartel.

Dave Workman at the Gun Rights Examiner received an e-mail from Senator Charles Grassley that said, in part:

"I've been asking for information from the departments of Justice and Homeland Security on the circumstances surrounding the murder of ICE Agent Zapata for almost a year, only to be met with resistance and more of the same stonewalling. If these revelations prove to be true, it's a sad commentary that this known trafficker was allowed to continue his illegal purchases, including trafficking the apparent weapon used in the murder of our own agent."

It's nice to see that Senator Grassley believes this report is a "sad commentary" and that he's reiterating what we've all known for over a year now, that's he's being stonewalled, but this righteous rhetoric needs to transition to righteous action soon. I realize Grassley is the ranking member and has limited power but DOJ needs to start coughing up documents or be held in contempt, which is something Rep. Darrell Issa's office has been hinting at doing but has already backed down once.

Be sure to read Attkisson's entire piece. It reveals a lot of smoke, and you know what they say about smoke.

The Forgotten, Murdered Federal Agent in Fast and Furious

There have been two federal agents murdered by drug cartels during the time that Operation Fast and Furious was in effect. One of them - Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry - has become more widely cited when the details of the scandal come up. The other - ICE Agent Jaime Zapata - doesn't get as much attention. In large part, that's because two guns from the actual operation were found at Terry's murder scene. It's not as clear-cut when it comes to Zapata, who was killed in Mexico City. The gun used to kill Zapata came from Texas and the details of any operation run out of that state aren't as well known as Fast and Furious, which was run out of Phoenix. Zapata's family is working to change that.

Via LA Times:

Five months after U.S. immigration agent Jaime Zapata was shot to death by a Mexican drug cartel, his family is demanding to know whether the weapons were purchased in the United States and smuggled into Mexico under the now-defunct Fast and Furious operation.

The family complains that U.S. authorities in Washington and Texas have refused to answer crucial questions about the Feb. 15 ambush on a four-lane highway in northern Mexico.

"What happened with Jaime needs to come out," the family's lawyer, Raymond L. Thomas of McAllen, Texas, said in a telephone interview Sunday. "And the likelihood that these were Fast and Furious guns is certainly plausible."

Mexican authorities have announced nine arrests in the high-profile case. Among them was Jesus Rejon Aguilar, a Zetas cartel leader who was captured near Mexico City this month.

In Washington, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is seeking information on the Zapata slaying.

The article ends thusly:

Zapata, a 32-year-old Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent, was based in Laredo, Texas. He and fellow agent Victor Avila were on the Pan-American Highway in Mexico when they were stopped by at least eight men in two vehicles. The Americans identified themselves and the attackers opened fire, killing Zapata and wounding Avila.

In March, ATF officials in Texas told reporters that one of the weapons believed to have been used in the assault — a Romanian-made AK-47 — was bought in October at a Texas gun shop. The shop purportedly sold 40 firearms that wound up with the Zetas cartel.

On June 14, Thomas, the Zapata family lawyer, asked the FBI, the U.S. attorney's office and Homeland Security agents for FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration documents on the Zetas cartel and the slaying, and for an inspection of the bullet-riddled vehicle.

It's already known - h/t Sipsey Street - that Janet Napolitano pledged in March of 2009 to go after gun dealers who sell weapons to bad guys who take them into Mexico. If it can be proven that the gun used to kill Zapata was purchased in Texas, the gun store owner responsible should have been arrested and charged by now. That is, unless there was indeed a Fast and Furious operation - which looks increasingly likely - run out of Texas. When that is uncovered, this scandal gets ratcheted up a big notch. In fact, if it is true, Eric Holder's Justice Department may have been better off revealing it a long time ago because the screws have tightened significantly since Fast and Furious became a story.

Read it all.

Family of Murdered ICE Agent Wants to know where the Gun used to Murder him, came from

The most well known casualty when it comes to Operation Fast and Furious is Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, who was murdered in December. Two guns the ATF let 'walk' into Mexico were found at the scene. However, there was also another federal agent whose death is tied to Fast and Furious. His name is Jaime Zapata and he was an ICE agent murdered in Mexico. One of the reasons Terry's death is getting more attention is because the appearance of those guns is confirmed. In Zapata's case, his family continues to get the runaround from the feds and they're demanding answers.

Via the LAT:

Five months after U.S. immigration agent Jaime Zapata was shot to death by a Mexican drug cartel, his family is demanding to know whether the weapons were purchased in the United States and smuggled into Mexico under the now-defunct Fast and Furious operation.

The family complains that U.S. authorities in Washington and Texas have refused to answer crucial questions about the Feb. 15 ambush on a four-lane highway in northern Mexico.

"What happened with Jaime needs to come out," the family's lawyer, Raymond L. Thomas of McAllen, Texas, said in a telephone interview Sunday. "And the likelihood that these were Fast and Furious guns is certainly plausible."

Mexican authorities have announced nine arrests in the high-profile case. Among them was Jesus Rejon Aguilar, a Zetas cartel leader who was captured near Mexico City this month.

In Washington, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is seeking information on the Zapata slaying.

It's beyond disturbing that the authorities will not give the Zapata family answers. The longer they do not do so, the more they implicate themselves.

h/t Free Republic

HEAD OF ICE THUMBS NOSE AT ARIZONA

This level of childishness coming from a presidential administration is most certainly the lowest of any previous one. John Morton, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is openly telling Arizona that his agency will not process illegal aliens handed over to it by Arizona law enforcement officials who attempt to follow their state's law. By expressing his opinion in this way, while not being fired, Morton is obviously telegraphing the fact that this message is being sent straight from the White House.

Via Fox News:

John Morton, assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, made the comment during a meeting on Wednesday with the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, the newspaper reports.

"I don't think the Arizona law, or laws like it, are the solution," Morton told the newspaper.

The best way to reduce illegal immigration is through a comprehensive federal approach, he said, and not a patchwork of state laws.

The law, which criminalizes being in the state illegally and requires authorities to check suspects for immigration status, is not "good government," Morton said.

This is coming straight from Obama, who is openly admitting that he will not follow the rule of law if he disagrees with it. It doesn't take a rocket science to connect the dot between Morton and Obama. If Obama disagreed with Morton saying something so blatantly egregious, he would fire him. The reverse necessarily has to be true. Morton likely risked job loss if he didn't make such a statement. The problem is that he should have resigned rather than make it.

When a public official willingly carries out an unlawful order or performs an unlawful act or omission instead of stepping aside, that individual becomes complicit in the perpetuation of that illegal behavior. It's long been established that the defense of, 'I was just following orders' does not let that person off the hook when the order is illegal. Fox's Charles Krauthammer perhaps said it best when he called the administration "lawless".



h/t to Gateway Pundit for the video.