I've been reading about the ATF gun running scandal in the national blogs, but I didn't realize the scandal is centered at the Phoenix ATF office. Has the local media pointed this out?
CBS News has learned that virtually all the top ATF managers in Phoenix involved in the controversial "Fast and Furious" operation have been reassigned and replaced. The shake-up comes in the wake of the gunwalking scandal in which ATF allegedly allowed more than 2500 weapons to hit the streets or "walk."
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Bill Newell has been replaced by the former Detroit SAC Tom Brandon. Newell was reassigned to ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. shortly after CBS News interviewed an ATF agent-turned-whistleblower about the alleged gunwalking.
Two new Assistant Special Agents in Charge (ASACs) have also moved into the ATF Phoenix office: Joe Anarumo of Miami and Tom Atteberry of Kansas City. Sources say they replace the ASACs who oversaw Fast and Furious in Phoenix: George Gillett, who's being reassigned to Washington D.C. headquarters; and Jim Needles, who's been tasked to the Phoenix U.S. Attorney's office.
"This is unprecedented and welcome," says one insider, who describes the new Phoenix management as "the A-Team" and "respected."
I've been asking this question for a couple of months now. But I'm afraid my audience is just a few Twitter and Facebook followers. Even KPHO has been silent even though it's CBS that's been running the story.
Posted by: David, Chandler, AZ | May 19, 2011 at 11:20 AM
I'm wondering when all the MSM folks who've been blaming gun store owners for shady sales practices will be publishing apologies.
I won't be holding my breath ...
Posted by: Dave K. | May 19, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Again, what happened to the J. Edgar Napolitano piece? It was a fresh perspective and one I'd wanted to point people to. Please bring it back, I'm intrigued.
Posted by: Zach | May 19, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Don't expect the MSM--or any portion of the Left--to apologize--for ANYTHING! Everything they do is based on their emotional committment to their cause and they view all their actions as necessary to their ends. Machiavelli would be proud.
Posted by: RonJ | May 19, 2011 at 07:05 PM
The latest development, as reported by Sipsey Street Irregulars:
"Within the past few days DEA in Phoenix was survielling what they believed to be a dope load. A traffic stop was executed. The haul was not drugs but instead 50 to 60 AK-47’s, wrapped in cellophane and intended for Mexico that were purchased during Fast and Furious. DEA has the guns and ATF is reportedly scrambling to take possession of the guns from DEA to avoid further bad publicity."
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2011/05/dea-phoenix-reported-to-have-stumbled.html
Posted by: Steve F. | May 19, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Soooo, if you're involved in an ATF scandal, you are "reassigned" to the US Attorney's office and/or Washington, DC?
Friends of Janet?
Posted by: Travis | May 20, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Yes, they have entirely missed this story, because:
1) Guns are bad;
2) ATF "controls" guns, and
3) Dan Rather was off covering Girls Gone Wild on HDNet.
Good unreported story, remains unreported, because nobody cares about network snooze, except possibly next Maxim-editor-in-chief, Katie Couric!!!!
Hot Damn!
Posted by: Mesa Econoguy | May 21, 2011 at 02:37 AM
I hope someone stays on this. It's freaky what this administration is getting into just to make political points.
Let's get Mcain's daughter involved in the investigation (sarc), then we'll be sure to find out.......?
Posted by: Joe Stalin | May 29, 2011 at 01:33 AM