ATF chief who oversaw Operation Fast and Furious to step down

[Pullo]

"Kenneth E. Melson, under fire in connection with the controversial Fast and Furious gun-trafficking investigation, announced today that he is stepping down as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, several sources tell The Times. ..."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-atf-director-resign-20110830,0,2535299.story?track=rss">Link

Its amazing Melson has been able to stick around this long.

[DURHAM D]

1. He should of "fallen" down.

On his sword.

[SavWriter]

2. Long Ago

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. recommend

By Richard A. Serrano

Washington Bureau

August 30, 2011, 9:13 a.m.
Kenneth E. Melson, who has faced heacy criticism in connection with the controversial Fast and Furious gun-trafficking investigation, announced Tuesday that he is stepping down as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Melson shared the news in a conference call at 11:30 a.m. EDT with supervisors at the bureau's field offices, telling them that he will be moving back to the Department of Justice to serve as a senior advisor with the Office of Legal Programs. His resignation will take effect at 5 p.m. EDT.

Attorney Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. announced that B. Todd Jones, the U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis, will replace Melson as acting director, effective Wednesday.

Despite all the problems with Fast and Furious under Melson's tenure, Holder praised the out-going acting director and his new responsibilities.

more at link:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-atf-director-resign-20110830,0,2535299.story?track=rss

[TheWraith]

4. Good. Next step: him being brought up on smuggling and RICO charges. nt

[Lurks Often]

8. Probably not his idea in the first place

Given that he is a career civil servant who did not come up through the ATF and took the position reluctantly and that he went to the Congressional Committee investigating the Fast & Furious/Gunwalker on his own with his own lawyer, I'm thinking the plan originated somewhere higher up the chain. My guess is Holder and that rate this investigation is proceeding, between DOJ stonewalling and the Congressional hearings only every couple of months, that this will blow up sometime next summer, just in time for the elections.

[burf]

11. My guess is F&F

and Gunwalker will come up during the presidential debates. A simple "what did the president know and when did he know it" will start the ball rolling. Pro gun groups and some in the corporate media will start digging and it ain't gonna be pretty.

Unless the economy picks up and the jobless rate drops considerably, F&F will be the icing on the cake of an Obama one term presidency.

[spin]

5. K&R (n/t)

[X_Digger]

6. Step down from ATF, but shuffling to a new DOJ post..

His ass needs to be on the street.

[DonP]

16. But "On the street" he might start talking

This way, he's still being paid and gets all his benefits. It makes it more attractive to him to shut up and count paper clips.

[X_Digger]

19. True, true..

His new position does sound like a nice cushy spot to land in. 'Forensics Advisor with the Office of Legal Programs'

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. K&R Melson should be handed the keys to the street n/t

[Glassunion]

9. Good!

[rl6214]

10. The first of many I'm sure

[AtheistCrusader]

12. *reassigned*

[Katya Mullethov]

13. The U.S. Attorney for Arizona got canned

Simple misunderstanding . It'll all work out .

[Katya Mullethov]

14. Nope ...wait .He resigned

Totally different !

"If his resignation is tied to Fast and Furious, it's ridiculous. It would be absolutely outrageous for 'Justice Main' to take it out on Dennis and make him the fall guy," DeConcini said. "It's just typical Washington cronyism. It just shows you how incompetent government can be to save themselves. It appears they screwed up, based on congressional hearings."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/08/30/20110830us-attorney-arizona-burke-resigns30-ON.html#ixzz1WY0q7UWz


To paraphrase , " Thaths incontheefable !

[SteveM]

15. I am suspicious about the ATF's "losing track" of the smuggled arms...

"The agency, which didn't have the resources to follow so many weapons, soon lost track of many of them. When officials did follow them to the next level, the buyers of the guns often turned out to be Mexicans living legally in the U.S. and not cartel honchos."

Well, which is it? And who determined that the agency "didn't have the resources?"

I know that sources are shaky about the idea of "higher ups" involved, but this should be pursued. The "higher ups" may be in the Obama Administration and/or within one of the CIA's off-the-books shenanigans, but I am skeptical of the "resource" argument. Has anyone found any info (other than the Sipsey Street Irregulars) which points to the CIA taking charge, and walking the guns to drug gang(s) other than the Zetas, in an effort to delay or prevent this biggest drug gang from obtaining a power-sharing seat in the Mexican government?

[spin]

17. There is a good chance that this scandal will haunt Obama during his reelection ...

campaign.

It would be better to cooperate fully with the investigation now and avoid what is beginning to look like a cover up.

[Pullo]

18. a pretty poor cover up at that n/t

[SteveM]

21. I agree. But if it involves the CIA, I doubt any president would come clean. nt

[DissedByBush]

20. What was he offered?

To sacrifice himself to protect Holder.

[razorman]

22. Holder should be wearing an orange jumpsuit.

I think that, before this is over, he will be.