Mask is off Mexican Government: Ignored Fast and Furious, Exploiting Sandy Hook

The Mexican government is now officially in on it, folks. Yes, suspicions were raised over that government's relative silence about Operation Fast and Furious as the scandal unfolded for nearly two years but now that Mexican politicians are lobbying the U.S. Senate to create a gun registry in states that border Mexico, it's confirmed.

In this local news report from a CBS affiliate in Arizona, citizens who were interviewed about this attempt by Mexican lawmakers to create a gun registry in the U.S. brought up Fast and Furious when asked for their take.

The mask is off Mexico's leaders, whether we're talking about those who didn't stand up when Fast and Furious was exposed or those who are now getting behind Obama's gun control / registration / confiscation push.

Via The Blaze:

CBS 5 - KPHO 

In Fast and Furious, the ATF instructed gun store owners in 'border states' - despite the objections of those gun store owners - to sell high powered rifles (AK-47's and .50 Cal.) to straw purchasers who they knew would walk those thousands of weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Those guns were used - and continue to be used - in the commission of countless murders. The Mexican government was all but silent as a dastardly plan by high ranking members of the Obama administration was implemented in an attempt to create the climate for gun control.

It didn't work and Sandy Hook is Plan B but it's not just the Obama administration who is implementing it. The Mexican government is playing along.

Let's go back to March 24, 2009. A lot happened on that day. First, here is Obama at a news conference telling the press that the situation with regard to guns from the U.S. going to Mexican drug cartels is 'out of control'. What would transpire over the next several months involved an agency under the purview of Obama's Justice Department intentionally making that situation much worse:



Also on March 24, 2009... Deputy Attorney General David Ogden expounds on the same subject and even made reference to 'Project Gunrunner', the larger umbrella term for Fast and Furious:



Oh, and let's not forget DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano on March 24, 2009 talking about the same subject. Notice how she talks about 'prosecuting' gun dealers who sell to bad guys. If Fast and Furious hadn't blown up in the administration's face, would the DOJ have prosecuted gun dealers who objected but who were told by the ATF to sell anyway? Napolitano starts around the 2:00 mark:



Here is Obama in April of 2009, shortly after Fast and Furious was put into motion. Notice the message. Innocent Mexicans were being murdered at the hands of guns purchased in the U.S. and something had to be done. Little did we know that the something involved the ATF accelerating the practice of sending guns to Mexico. Why? Well, to create the climate for gun control that would involve things like gun registries in border states:



Two years later, on March 3, 2011 - during a joint press conference at the White House with Obama and Mexico's president Felipe Calderon - the subject of gun violence in Mexico was discussed. Remember, the Obama administration was on defense at the time because of Fast and Furious so there was no aggressive push for gun control. All the two men could do was nibble around the edges. Here is a quote from Calderon, which takes place around the 32:00 mark:

"...with respect to the actions foreign agents in the Mexican land. The law does not allow agents of the United States or any other country to take part in tasks involving justice enforcement in our territory. As a result, they cannot carry weapons or undertake operational tasks. Their functions in line with our treaties are limited to the exchange of information and technical assistance to support Mexican authorities in these tasks... it's very clear for me as well that we must find a way of enhancing the level of protection of any and all agents who are acting within the framework of the law against crime and of course we are deeply analyzing alternatives for this and in dialogue with the Mexican Congress, who is the party who has the final say on this matter."

One of the things we learned in the wake of Fast and Furious is that the ATF was essentially sending high powered weapons to drug cartels without the Mexican government's knowledge. Yet, the Obama administration seemed to get a pass with the Mexican government while the American people are NOT getting a pass from the Mexican government, relative to something they had nothing to do with - Sandy Hook.

At that same March 3, 2011 press conference - shortly after Calderon's aforementioned statement - a liberal, sycophantic, hispanic reporter stuck his nose firmly in Obama's... never mind and asked him why he didn't have the power to 'veto' the second amendment. Obama then proceeded to lie his face off in light of what we now know happened with Fast and Furious. He then laughably says his administration has 'seen progress' with respect to catching straw purchasers.

Via CNS News:



As the operation blew up in the face of the administration, Mexican leaders were all but silent and the Obama administration stonewalled. Now that Sandy Hook is replacing Fast and Furious as the trigger for gun control, Mexican officials are teaming up with the Obama administration in an attempt to do what Fast and Furious failed to do.

Breaking: Border Patrol agent shot and killed at Brian Terry Station

Two U.S. Border Patrol agents were shot early on October 2nd at a place that was dedicated to slain Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. One of the two shot today has died from his wounds.

Via Fox News:

Sharyl Attkisson: DOJ IG Report on Fast and Furious throws ATF Arizona under the bus

According to CBS' Sharyl Attkisson, the much anticipated DOJ IG report on Operation Fast and Furious is particularly hard on ATF's Phoenix office and may just give Justice Department leadership a pass.

Via CBS News:

Those familiar with the contents say ATF Phoenix officials shoulder much blame, including then-Special Agent in Charge Bill Newell, the lead Fast and Furious case agent Hope MacAllister, and group supervisor David Voth.

Since the controversy was first exposed, a divide has developed between the ATF staff in Phoenix who oversaw and implemented Fast and Furious; and their supervisors at ATF headquarters and the Justice Department. The Phoenix officials say higher-ups approved of the case. But the higher-ups say it was all the brainchild of rogue ATF officials in Phoenix.

Phoenix ATF officials tell CBS News that higher-level officials were integral in shifting focus away from arresting ground level gun buyers, to "a cartel focused strategy" that allowed guns hit the streets in an attempt to make a bigger case. They say the idea was codified in the September 2010 ATF document "Project Gunrunner-A Cartel Focused Strategy." The document refers to using the tactic of "limited or delayed interdiction" of guns, while cautioning that such investigations "must be closely monitored."

A little bit further into Attkisson's article, it appears that we could be watching the beginning stages of a circular firing squad; ATF leadership in Phoenix does not appear to be all that interested in just rolling over:

As alleged proof that they had the blessing of their superiors, ATF officials in Phoenix point to regular briefings provided headquarters and the Justice Department's National Drug Intelligence Center. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had agents working the case. The Justice Department also approved seven wiretaps in Fast and Furious. However, then-head of ATF Kenneth Melson and officials at the Justice Department say they never intended for agents to allow guns to walk, and didn't know it was happening. They also say they either didn't read written briefings submitted about the case, or that the briefings and affidavits didn't reveal the controversial strategy being used. Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano, who oversees ICE, also says she knew nothing of the case.

Back on July 30th, the Oversight Committee issued the first of three reports on Fast and Furious. In it, the focus of that report wasn't all that dissimilar from what we're being told is in the IG Report. Report 1 of 3 was extremely critical of Phoenix ATF officials as well as ATF senior leadership. It will be interesting to see if the timing of the release of Report 2 of 3 will correspond with the testimony of the DOJ IG, who was recently called to testify this coming September 11th. That second report is supposed to point directly to the involvement of senior DOJ leadership. Watching the IG defend a position that involves singling out Phoenix ATF leadership while having to respond to a stinging report that outs DOJ leadership will be compelling to say the least.

In testimony before Congressional Committees, Attorney General Eric Holder, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and others all pointed to this IG Report instead of answering uncomfortable questions. Now that the Report is complete, the Inspector General is where the buck will have to stop.

The September 11th hearing may just top them all.

Read it all.

Arizona: Black man shoots, kills White Hispanic, not arrested

This story appears to be the exact inverse of the narrative being pushed by Al Sharpton and his lapdog media in the Trayvon Martin case. As you know, the meme that the race baiters have been working tirelessly to beat into the consciousness of Americans is that a racist "white hispanic" murdered a black youth in cold blood without consequence, until the pressure brought to bear by those race baiters secured George Zimmerman's arrest.

Fast forward to earlier this month at a Taco Bell in Arizona and the shooting death of a "white hispanic" by a black man. The shooting victim's name was Daniel Adkins.

Here is a news report from the Fox affiliate in Phoenix:

About 7:30 p.m., a 22-year-old man and his girlfriend ordered food at the Taco Bell drive-thru and were told to pull up while their order was prepared.

At the same time, Adkins stepped around a corner into the path of the vehicle and angry words were exchanged between he and the driver.

They got into an altercation and Adkins was shot once by the driver. He died at the scene.

The driver, a 22-year-old black male, called police but has not been arrested.

At first, the couple claimed that Adkins had a metal pipe that he swung at them -- but it turns out he was holding a dog leash with his yellow lab on the other end.

Family members want that driver arrested, but he's claiming self-defense.

Paging Al Sharpton...

Taco Bell Shooting Victim was Holding Leash, Not Weapon: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Here is a more recent report:



h/t American Thinker

Is Arizona State Legislature suffering from John Boehner syndrome?

Do you remember when news broke earlier this year that Rep. Darrell Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley were going to get support at the Arizona state level with respect to the Fast and Furious investigation? Yeah, well, not only has the deadline for the legislature to provide its findings come and gone but there hasn't been ONE SINGLE PUBLIC MEETING on the topic.

Via ABC 15 in Phoenix:

The special state committee, created in January to investigate the controversial ATF Fast and Furious case, will not meet its March 30, 2012 deadline to provide its findings about the controversial case to the governor.

According to Rey Torres, the Director of Communications for the Arizona House of Representatives, the Ad Hoc Committee on Operation Fast and Furious has not yet held a meeting and currently has no meeting scheduled. 

The group was formed to investigate the factual background of the flawed Fast and Furious case , in which ATF agents admitted to allowing straw buyers to obtain weapons and distribute them to known criminals.

Torres said it is unlikely that a meeting will be scheduled before the legislative session is finished sometime next month.

Additionally, there is new information on one of the Fast and Furious guns recovered at a crime scene in Maricopa County two years ago. This news report focuses on the apprehension of a suspect driving a stolen vehicle that was carrying an AK-47 connected to Fast and Furious. The criminal actually pointed a separate gun at the police officer who was chasing him but it's easy to imagine a scenario whereby the driver of the stolen vehicle could have fatally shot a police officer.



h/t Sipsey Street

Video: Occupy Phoenix calling for Capitalists to be Re-educated through "Manual Labor"

If you thought the OWS crowd was gone after its nationwide protests fizzled late last year, it did not. They went dormant and have spent the majority of the winter festering inside their warm worm holes, thinking of ways to hit back harder this spring. Here is one example in Phoenix.

As is the case in all Alinsky-style movements, targets need to be specific and ever changing because, as Rule number 7 States:

A tactic that drags on for too long becomes a drag. Commitment may become ritualistic as people turn to other issues.

Translation: You can only pick on the Koch brothers for so long before you have to go after someone else.

Enter another target; it's called ALEC or the American Legislative Exchange Council. It is a group made up of capitalist-minded state legislators and policy advocates.

Note what this useful idiot is calling for here. He wants all ALEC officials to be tried and sentenced to "manual labor" that is intended to fix all the damage that such officials are allegedly responsible for. In essence, what OWS in Phoenix is calling for here is the re-education of Capitalists

Via Verum Serum:



I apologize in advance for being redundant but in light of what OWS Phoenix, which is ironically located in the "American southwest" is advocating, I give you (again) the video of Larry Grathwohl in 1982. This video needs to be watched as many times as it takes to get the reality of what we're facing to sink in.

Grathwohl was the only man to successfully infiltrate the Weather Underground, founded by none other than Barack Obama friend and colleague, Bill Ayers. In this clip, he explains exactly what Ayers' group intended to do after taking down the United States government. Notice how many "capitalists" the Weather Underground intended to "eliminate" if they couldn't be "re-educated" in "centers located in the American southwest."

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Bill Ayers support the Occupy movement? Ditto Obama?

Video: NBC's Plastic Man, Brian Williams and Misplaced Outrage

There's quite a bit of feigned outrage over Arizona Governor Jan Brewer pointing her finger at Barack Obama as he met with her on the tarmac in the Governor's state. One of those outraged is none other than a certain NBC news anchor who would much rather bow to Obama.

Williams, whose "objective" news casts are belied by blatant bias, has a bit of a problem and should probably move on at this point. In 2006, he not only pointed his finger directly at then President George W. Bush's chest but held it there for quite some time.

Via NewsBusters:



Objectivity? Ha!

Remember this?

Video: Arizona looking to sue the Feds over Fast and Furious

The Feds have been going after Arizona for quite some time. First, there was SB 1070, Arizona's tough immigration law. The Feds sued to have it overturned and a federal judge did the next best thing; she blocked it and the law has subsequently wallowed, suspended in its operation. Then, sheriff Joe Arpaio was attacked and harassed by Eric Holder's Justice Department, which charged that he violated the civil rights of minorities.

This could be what we call payback, depending on how far it goes. As the scandal that broke a year ago continues to percolate in two House Committees (Oversight and Judiciary), the state of Arizona is looking into the possibility that the Feds may have violated any of the state's laws. This makes for an interesting development in light of the fact that the head of the state's criminal division for the US Attorneys Office, pleaded the fifth when subpoenaed to testify in front of the Oversight committee.



h/t Hot Air

Subpoenaed US Attorney in Fast and Furious to Plead the Fifth

Yesterday, it was learned that Oversight Committee chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa issued a subpoena for the testimony of Patrick Cunningham, the chief of the Criminal Division of Arizona's U.S. Attorney's Office. Today, we learn that Cunningham is pleading the Fifth.

Via Fox News:

The chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona is refusing to testify before Congress regarding Operation Fast and Furious, the federal gun-running scandal that sent U.S. weapons to Mexico.

Patrick J. Cunningham informed the House Oversight Committee late Thursday through his attorney that he will use the Fifth Amendment protection.

Cunningham was ordered Wednesday to appear before Chairman Darrell Issa and the House Oversight Committee regarding his role in the operation that sent more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa Cartel. Guns from the failed operation were found at the murder scene of Border Agent Brian Terry.

Sipsey Street is reporting that this could - underscore could - actually be a bad sign and speculates that Issa's Committee may be backing down to the White House and Justice Department by focusing exclusively on Arizona and possibly acquiescing to the narrative that says Fast and Furious originated at the lower levels.

"I won't say that the fix is in, but the Committee seems to be buying into the 'Made-in-Phoenix' line pushed by the White House," said one source with inside knowledge of the investigator's work. This seems to be reflected in the subpoena letter from Issa to Cunningham. From (a) Politico story:

“Senior Justice Department officials have recently told the Committee that you relayed inaccurate and misleading information to the Department in preparation for its initial response to Congress,” wrote Issa. “These officials told us that even after Congress began investigating Fast and Furious, you continued to insist that no unacceptable tactics were used.”

The White House is happy for Issa to go after Cunningham for this is consistent with their denial that the White House had anything to do with gunwalking. Indeed, from the evidence above it would seem that the White House has determined Cunningham to be one of the designated sacrificial goats to that end.

Sipsey Street, which has developed a very credible reputation, then addresses what it views as the Oversight Committee's increased silence about the case:

This also comes at a time when journalists -- "mainstream" and despised bloggers alike -- have for weeks encountered a black hole when it comes to trying to find out what the Committee is working on and whether the story is progressing. "They've become the roach motel of press inquiries," said one. "Inquiries go in, but nothing comes out."

Another source, according to SS, is making the charge that Issa's Committee is fearful of both the FBI and the White House:

Another source familiar with the Issa investigation shared his fears about the direction and speed of the investigation. "They are afraid of the FBI" and are unwilling to really go after the Brian Terry murder cover-up and the use of FBI paid informants to buy weapons from the straw-buyers, he said. "They are afraid of the White House, too," indicating a reluctance to go after certain players in the early meetings such as that one held in March 2009 between ATF SAC Bill Newell and White House and DHS operatives, including, according to one report, Dennis Burke.

There is a chance that these claims are not accurate or that they are being driven by different motivations but if there is something to them, it wouldn't be good at all.

Read it for yourself HERE.

DNC Chair Still Blaming Tea Party for Giffords Shooting

There's a difference between spinning to score political points and outright egregious propaganda to further an agenda. Here, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz engages in the latter by attributing culpability to the Tea Party while discussing the Tucson shootings one year ago.

The time for attempting to understand this level of evil is long past but that doesn't make it any less important. The facts on the Tucson shooting came in long ago. Shooter Jared Loughner was an insane individual who was, at best, apolitical. If anything, the evidence points to him being leftist, if political at all, which would place him on Wasserman-Schultz's end of the spectrum.

After all, he listed the Communist manifesto and Mein Kampf as two of his favorite books. The former is at the heart of left-wing ideology and the latter was authored by Hitler, a man who sympathized with Islamists, like the left does today.



h/t Hot Air

Maricopa County Deputy Shot and Killed: Fast and Furious Gun?

It looks like a comment from a Doug Ross reader has drawn attention to a horrible and potentially, very explosive development involving the shooting death of a Maricopa County sheriff's deputy. If officer William Cole was slain with a gun placed into the hands of bad guys by ATF's Operation Fast & Furious, Sheriff Joe Arpaio is likely to be front and center very quickly and his anger will be on full display.

Via AZ Central:

A veteran Maricopa County sheriff's deputy slain by a gunman early Sunday responding to a call at an Anthem strip-mall was just hours away from finishing his final night shift before switching to daytime duties.

Flags hung at half-staff across the state all day Sunday to honor Deputy William Coleman, 50, a 20-year veteran officer with two young children, and the first Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputy slain in the line of duty since 1995.

His killer, who "came out shooting" when approached in his van by deputies in a parking lot just before dawn, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with two other deputies.

Here is the comment posted to Doug Ross' blog:

I would like to comment on the shooting of a Maricopa Deputy Sheriff Sunday morning 4am, north of Phoenix, AZ. The no comment policy of the AZ Central newspaper prevents readers from expressing thier views and suspicions on this tragic event. The 50 year old father of 2, died when his body armor was penetrated by an AK 47 bullet. Eric Holder and the DOJ are holding their breath that this weapon is not connected to Gunwalker's Fast and Furious. Real OLD MEDIA is dying, but real scandals are ongoing. That is my tie-in to your article. Censure me if you must.

Sipsey Street seems to think that if this gun ties back to Fast and Furious, we'll know soon.

Fast and Furious Documents Released by White House don't Do ATF Supervisor any favors

When the White House released over 600 pages of subpoenaed documents to congressional investigators this week, it was clearly an attempt to draw attention to an operation similar to that of Fast and Furious that was carried out during the Bush administration. Although operation Wide Receiver was an obvious precursor to Fast and Furious, it was nowhere near the scope. Nonetheless, any attempt to implicate the previous administration in similar practices is an attempt to deflect heat away from Fast and Furious.

However, a problem seems to arise when ATF Special Agent in Charge (SAC) at the time - William Newell - is brought into the picture. He apparently had involvement with both operations and his role in Wide Receiver is not likely to go unnoticed by congressional investigators. In 2006, a memo addressed to the US Attorney in Arizona by an ATF attorney expressed 'moral objections' to the proposed plan.

Via CBS News:

The memo asks then-U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton to weigh in on the gunwalking proposal. Charlton told CBS News he has no memory of the memo but "I don't believe I would have or ever did approve letting guns walk." He says his Assistant U.S. Attorney on the case at the time recently assured him the memo was disapproved.

"It's almost an I.Q. test," Charlton told CBS News, meaning nobody would approve the "preposterous" idea as outlined in the memo. But he notes, "Somebody did it (gunwalking) anyway, in disregard of what was disallowed, and repeated it again in Fast and Furious."

Phoenix ATF Special Agent in Charge Bill Newell oversaw both gunwalking operations. Newell was named to head the Phoenix office in June 2006. One month later came the memo seeking approval for the gunwalking. At a January press conference, Newell was asked if guns were allowed to walk in Fast and Furious, and he replied "hell, no." That answer was soon revealed as false, and Newell was transferred to ATF headquarters.

On its face, this doesn't look good for Newell at all. Whether the Justice Department wanted to or not, by pointing to Wide Receiver, they may have made life a whole lot more difficult for Newell.

h/t Sipsey Street

Video: Was that a Light that went on in Anderson Cooper's Head or is it a Deer in the Headlights look?

This is an amazing clip for several reasons. First, the fact that CNN had Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu on to talk about Operation Fast and Furious at all is truly noteworthy. Then again, it's a scandal that's been unfolding for eight months now (welcome to the party, CNN). Second, if Cooper was betting that Babeu was going to walk back his comments about the ATF being an 'accomplice to murder,' he was sadly mistaken because Babeu reiterated and double-underscored those comments with the equivalent of a sharpie. Lastly, it's hard to tell if Cooper is amazed at what he's hearing or can't come to grips with it but the look on his face is priceless. Babeu even calls out Eric Holder by name.

Babeu simply BRINGS IT and Cooper is left punch drunk:



h/t Hapblog

Breaking: Illegal Aliens to Flee Alabama in Droves

The good news is that Alabama can now implement the most important parts of its tough immigration law. The bad news is it's not a border state. Last year, Arizona passed SB 1070, only to have the toughest aspects of its immigration law struck down by a federal judge. In Texas, a tough sanctuary cities bill died in the legislature, in part, because two wealthy businessmen - grocery store magnate Charles Butt and developer Bob Perry - threatened to withhold campaign contributions to the Republican Party. Alabama passed what should have been passed in Texas and US District Judge Sharon Blackburn did what US District Judge Susan Bolton should have done relative to Arizona's law; she allowed the key parts to remain in effect.

Via POLITICO:

A federal judge gave a green light for Alabama to enforce some of the most controversial parts of its toughest-in-the-nation immigration law, ruling that certain measures do not violate federal law.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn ruled that Alabama can enforce the law’s requirements for schools to verify students’ immigration status and for police to determine citizenship and status of those they stop, detain or arrest. Police are allowed to arrest anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant during a routine traffic stop, under the law.

In a 115-page opinion, Blackburn wrote that “the United States has not met the requirements for a preliminary injunction” for several of the measures the Justice Department had argued violated the Constitution and usurped the federal government’s authority to set immigration policy.

But Blackburn granted the Obama administration’s request to block certain portions of the law until she makes a final ruling. Those sections include provisions making it a crime to transport or harbor an illegal immigrant, or for an illegal immigrant to look for or perform work. Blackburn also blocked parts of the law that would allow discrimination lawsuits against companies that hire illegal immigrants when they discharge or fail to hire a U.S. citizen and forbid employers from claiming as business tax deductions wages paid to illegal immigrants.

Once again, the Obama administration comes down on the side of defending illegal behavior. In the minds of Eric Holder's Justice Department, it's apparently not a crime to harbor an illegal alien. Uh, Mr. Holder, it's called being an accomplice.

All things being equal, this is good news.

h/t Weasel ZIppers

Open Letter: Attorney asks Arizona Attorney General to Prosecute ATF Officials

During the July 26th Oversight and Government Reform hearing into who knew what, when about ATF's Operation Fast and Furious, former Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Phoenix division, William Newell was grilled multiple times. One exchange in particular between he and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) took an interesting turn when Gowdy asked Newell to respond to a hypothetical in which Mexican authorities demanded the extradition of any ATF official responsible for implementing the operation. Newell appears to have been quite instrumental in that implementation.

An attorney in Arizona has now sent an open letter to his state's Attorney General requesting prosecution of any and all ATF officials - this would no doubt include Newell - responsible for the conception or implementation of Fast and Furious.

Via Tucson Citizen:

Tom Horne
Arizona Attorney General

Re: ATF Fast and Furious

Dear Mr. Horne

As you are aware, ATF ran a program called “Fast and Furious” out of their Phoenix office whereby the let assault rifles “walk” into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels and various border bandits.

Two of those ATF “walked” guns, which were sold by a Phoenix area gun shop with the knowledge of ATF, were found at the murder scene of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.

While various investigations are on-going at the federal level, there appear to be important state law issues involved in this situation.

I specifically call your attention to Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 Section 1201 “Endangerment”

13-1201. Endangerment; classification

A. A person commits endangerment by recklessly endangering another person with a substantial risk of imminent death or physical injury.

B. Endangerment involving a substantial risk of imminent death is a class 6 felony. In all other cases, it is a class 1 misdemeanor.

Evidence is mounting that field agents within the Phoenix office of ATF warned their superiors that the “walking” of guns could lead to the deaths of, among others, federal agents.

The warnings of these dedicated and honorable law enforcement officers were ignored by their superiors. The end result was Border Patrol agent Brian Terry died as a result of these “walked” guns.

Arguably senior officials in ATF are chargeable for endangerment under state law.

I would urge you and your staff to look into the record that has been developed so far by the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the sworn testimony by various ATF employees with an eye on what, if any, state criminal laws were violated in the course of the “Fast and Furious” project.

I am suggesting ARS 13-1201 as just one of what may be many examples of violation of state criminal laws by ATF officials.

There is a fundamental issue at stake here.

Sometimes the federal government operates as though it is not subject to any law, even at the federal level. At times it becomes obvious that in the pursuit of their mission, they disregard state law, placing their mission ahead of the public safety and well-being of the people within a state.

Just because they might be federal employees or even federal law enforcement officials, they do not have any kind of immunity for violations of the state criminal code.

I urge you to look closely at the conduct of ATF within Arizona, and investigate whether or not that conduct violated state criminal laws, And if you find the conduct of the ATF senior management did indeed violate state law, please hold those ATF officials accountable to the people of Arizona.

Thank you

Hugh Holub
Attorney at Law
P.O Box 4773
Tubac, Arizona 85646

This would indeed be a great way for Arizona to hit back at the Feds after the whole SB 1070 fiasco. In fact, we'll know there's something to this if the Feds drop their suit against Arizona relative to the state's immigration law in return for Arizona's AG dropping any potential case against ATF agents.

Time for Arizona to start going on offense.

h/t Sipsey Street

Arizona Governor Brewer Issues Statement on Gunwalker

We can probably file this one under 'fallout from Day 2 of the hearings over Project Gunrunner / Operation Fast and Furious.' I'm still trying to figure out what bonehead decided to air the most historic hearings since Watergate to C-SPAN 3. Every cable news channel should have carried Wednesday's entire round; it was that compelling. Instead, they've been fixated on the Casey Anthony trial. I really don't understand who's making these decisions but they need a bad performance appraisal the next time around.

Ok, now to Jan Brewer's statement (h/t to Sipsey Street) The Governor of Arizona ain't happy at all and if she continues to press on this, she will find herself holding much higher ground against the Feds, an entity she's been fighting for some time.

From her statement:

Federal Operation Fast and Furious placed Arizonans at risk

“I am outraged by findings in a new Congressional report that alleges federal agents were instructed to stand aside and do nothing as up to 2,000 weapons were illegally purchased in Arizona and resold. In many cases, the end result appears to have been the arming of violent drug cartels south of the border.

“During Operation Fast and Furious in 2010, according to this report, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms were ordered to simply track these „straw buyer‟ weapons sales but not intervene. Longtime federal agents have now testified before Congress that allowing these weapons to leave the premises, a practice generally known as „gun walking,‟ was a marked departure from accepted law enforcement practices.

“ATF agents lost track of many of these weapons, including assault weapons and .50 caliber sniper rifles. A significant number undoubtedly found their way to Mexican drug cartels. Tragically, two AK-47s traced back to Operation Fast and Furious later turned up at the crime scene near Rio Rico, Arizona, where Arizona Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered by bandits. Authorities are still looking for the murder weapon.

“If the allegations contained in this Congressional report are accurate, then Operation Fast and Furious endangered the lives of innocent people on both sides of the border. The people of Arizona deserve answers from the Department of Justice and ATF as to how this could have been sanctioned, let alone encouraged. We may never know how many weapons illegally sold as part of this operation later turned up at a crime scene. But the connection between this failed federal operation and the death of Border Patrol Agent Terry is clear. The Congressional report puts it best: „The death of Border Agent Brian Terry was likely a preventable tragedy.‟”

Can you say, 'Humpty Dumpty Presidency'?

Also via Sipsey Street, this cartoon from Glenn McCoy says it all:

Video: Nothing Illegal Found in Home of Marine Shot Dead by Police

This story simply stinks and there has got to be much more to it. On May 5th, during a drug raid, Pima County police in Arizona attempted to serve a search warrant at the home of Jose Guerena, a retired Marine. The video below shows that a very loud siren rang out for eight seconds before police entered Guerena's home. Shortly after barging into the home, shots can be heard. In all, at least 70 shots were fired by police inside the home. Guerena was hit multiple times and died at the scene. A S.W.A.T. team arrived shortly after Pima County police.

Perhaps the biggest red flag is that nothing illegal was found inside the home.

Both the police and Guerena's wife have given conflicting accounts. Initially, reports surfaced that police said they were fired upon but the gun in Guerena's possession was shown to have never been fired; it hadn't even been taken off of 'safety.' Vanessa Guerena's story changed as well. She initially reported that she heard no sirens but the video makes it clear that sirens blared just outside the home prior to the raid.

An interesting side note is that the Sheriff of Pima County is Clarence Dupnik, the same guy who said his office would not enforce S.B. 1070 if passed. He also waded into controversial waters earlier this year when he blamed talk radio for the Tucson shooting that critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Here is a recent video report from KGUN



Here is a video of the actual raid via The Blaze:

Arizona Community Fuming over Obama's 'Moat' Joke

As Obama was campaigning for hispanic votes in El Paso, he mocked those who want him to clamp down on illegal immigration by suggesting that they wouldn't even be satisfied with a moat filled with alligators. There are some citizens in an Arizona community who are spitting mad over this, not only because they sit it as ridicule in response to their very real concerns; they are already very angry because they believe illegal aliens are responsible for a wild fire that is ravaging their countryside. The residents of the area are circulating a petition they hope will end up on Obama's desk.

Via Fox Nation:

The residents of the Chiricahua-Peloncillo drug and human smuggling corridor that runs from the Mexican border north through eastern Arizona and western New Mexico are circulating a petition to send to the White House in response to President Obama's recent immigration speech.

"It is with great wonderment and sadness that we listened to your May 10 speech on immigration issues. All of the joking about moats and alligators cut residents of Portal, AZ, to the core as we sheltered with friends or at a Red Cross evacuation site, to survive a terrible fire that still threatens our lives and property, as well as our ecotourism-based economy," the letter reads.

On Sunday, a massive fire broke out in Horseshoe Canyon, about 50 miles north of the Mexican border, which residents and law enforcement say they believe was started by criminal illegal aliens. Last year, a fire in the same location caused more than $10 million in damages.

"During its first 24-hrs, the fire consumed a greater area than did last year's fire over a 6-week period. Local residents were roused after midnight, and some slept fitfully in cars after fleeing with family photos and any valuables that could be quickly assembled. Elderly retirees left with medical supplies, including oxygen tanks on which some depend," the letter reads.

The petition comes just days after Obama appeared in El Paso, Texas, to plead the case for immigration reform that has been bottled up in Congress for years. During his remarks, the president argued that the border is as safe as it has ever been but Republican opportunists are using the issue to score political points and prevent legal reforms to address illegal immigration.

"We have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement. All the stuff they asked for, we've done," the president said.
"But even though we've answered these concerns, I've got to say I suspect there are still going to be some who are trying to move the goal posts on us one more time. You know, they said we needed to triple the Border Patrol. Or now they're going to say we need to quadruple the Border Patrol. Or they'll want a higher fence. Maybe they'll need a moat. Maybe they want alligators in the moat. They'll never be satisfied," he continued.

Whether it's having a cop killer sympathizer at the White House or mocking American citizens, Barack Obama continues to poke his opponents in the chest.

Read it all.



Here is the Sheriff of the county where the fire set by illegals was started. Sheriff Larry Dever appeared on the O'Reilly Factor and gives viewers an up close look at what's really going on.

Arizona Seeking Donations for Border Fence Construction

After losing its appeal to the Ninth Circuit of District Judge Susan Bolton's decision to put the major portions of Arizona's immigration law on hold, Governor Jan Brewer is taking her case to the U.S. Supreme Court. We all knew it was coming and here it is. While that's going on, Arizona state legislators are asking for online donations to help construct a Border fence since the Federal government will not do it. Perhaps the best part is that they'll use prison labor to do it.

Via the AP:

PHOENIX – Arizona lawmakers want more fence along the border with Mexico — whether the federal government thinks it's necessary or not.

They've got a plan that could get a project started using online donations and prison labor. If they get enough money, all they would have to do is get cooperation from landowners and construction could begin as soon as this year.

Gov. Jan Brewer recently signed a bill that sets the state on a course that begins with launching a website to raise money for the work, said state Sen. Steve Smith, the bill's sponsor.

"We're going to build this site as fast as we can, and promote it, and market the heck out of it," said Smith, a first-term Republican senator from Maricopa.

Arizona — strapped for cash and mired in a budget crisis — is already using public donations to pay for its legal defense of the SB1070 illegal immigration law.

Part of the marketing pitch for donations could include providing certificates declaring that individual contributors "helped build the Arizona wall," Smith said. "I think it's going to be a really, really neat thing."

Construction would start "after we've raised a significant amount of money first" but possibly as soon as later this year, Smith said.

The Daily Caller has more on Arizona's SCOTUS appeal.

h/t Barrackaid #2

Senate and Congressional Investigators in Arizona to Investigate Project Gunrunner

It would take more than two hands to count the number of times Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) have been stonewalled by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder, and ATF Director Kenneth Melson collectively. The most egregious infraction came courtesy of Melson, when he completely ignored a subpoena issued by the Committee on House Oversight and Government Reform. Issa, as Chairman, has subpoena power and he used it. After Melson ignored the deadline, Issa threatened contempt hearings.

It now appears Issa and Grassley are ratcheting up the pressure by sending investigators to Arizona to get more information from where this scandal originated.

Via CBS News:

CBS News has learned that House and Senate investigators have descended upon Arizona for their probe into the so-called "Gunwalker" scandal. They're gathering interviews from witnesses, including ATF insiders and area gun shop owners. Sources tell CBS News the congressional investigators are frustrated by what they view as across-the-board stonewalling by government agencies which have refused to provide information in the investigation. Government officials have said they won't provide information while their own investigations are ongoing.

"They're investigating themselves," says one source on Capitol Hill, "and then claiming the open investigations preclude them from giving Congress information it needs for independent oversight. It's highly improper."

ATF insiders being interviewed in Arizona are among those who told CBS News that their own agency employed a controversial strategy beginning in late 2009 called "letting guns walk," to try to gather intelligence. In that strategy, used in an operation ATF called "Fast and Furious," ATF allegedly allowed thousands of assault rifles and other weapons cross the Mexican border into the hands of drug cartels. Many of the guns later turned up at Mexican crime scenes, and ATF was notified; but documents show the agency continued to encourage local gun shop owners to sell more guns to the same suspects.

The longer this goes on, the worse it's going to be for the Obama administration. If Grassley and Issa get the incriminating answers from officials on the ground in Arizona they're likely to, we could see this scandal blow wide open. Then again, that should have happened at several points since this story broke a few months ago.

Read it all.