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Rep. Trey Gowdy, (R-S.C.), and Rep. Patrick Meehan, (R-Pa.), on the Department of Justice’s intra-agency failures in the ATF’s “Fast & Furio...
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Developments and operation fast and furious and we have witnessed tonight two members of the house oversight committee leading the investigation of the Justice Department.
Joining us from South Carolina congressman trade dowdy and from Pennsylvania congressman Patrick -- Good to have you both here and let me start if -- may -- you were congressman -- We now learn that three.
Three other agencies knew about operation.
Fast and furious and -- at least in terms of what was going on with.
These FBI targets who turned out to be informants that were the target of ETF.
What.
Did you know this before -- was before it broke congressman.
Well Lou first of all thank you for having me on a special with some wanted -- alike and respect as much -- -- mr.
United States attorney Patrick me handed.
-- Patrick and I both know -- virtue of the fact that we were former federal prosecutors.
That when something is designated and -- -- death case that is necessarily multi agency so.
We've known all along that ATF was not the only federal law enforcement agency there was aware.
A fast and furious the other thing that I think that you.
Put put so well.
What's the frustration and frankly the only part of the job it -- that that I don't miss.
Is the inner agency competition particularly of the supervisory level -- the line agents but the supervisors.
Who refused to cooperate one another and are more concerned with who gets the press or the credit than they -- -- investigation itself.
Covers -- Ice immigration customs enforcement the FBI and the DA.
I knew about what was going on.
And apparently.
ATF didn't and are pushing ahead with these very people some of -- turn out to be informants.
Well at this is this is crazy.
Well as -- had said the FBI our appears the DEA gave information to.
The ATF agents there is an interest in developing.
One's own case and pushing it forward.
The there's a process called the complexion in which.
Once people have a particular.
-- on a matter of they'll talk about who the particular.
Targets are and that the complexion sure to clean this up right from the outset and obviously did not.
Do you believe in and I'll -- -- first through congress -- -- All of this that's going on bureaucratic -- -- -- of these agencies.
In addition to ATF -- part of the Justice Department.
How in the world -- all of this be going on smuggling guns into.
Mexico putting him in the hands of of Mexican drug cartel members.
Are ordering forcing gun dealers to release those guns to.
To straw -- how could all of this be happening without the attorney general of the United States not knowing.
Well he's got a choice -- -- -- he said he's had for about twelve months now -- you either nobody.
In which case he's complicit or you didn't know body in which case you don't need to be the attorney general because he's not engaged -- off.
And -- Patrick nor are offering this by way of an excuse at all it is merely an explanation based on our.
History that while a lot -- worked very well together there is so much competition.
And I don't mean healthy competition I -- competition.
Withholding information.
If this is not the first Tom one agency has been investigating and other agencies.
Are paid confidential informant so it.
The public knows about it in this instance the hundred.
Instances where they don't know about it because they're not called fast and furious the supervisors need to quit worrying about the press conference.
Share information more they all work under the same flag even if they don't work for the same major.
It's.
And congressman and it is it in your judgment.
Reasonable I mean is it reasonable to believe that the attorney general himself wouldn't be involved in something that involve.
International transport weapons.
That were unlawfully soul.
But at the order of an agency of the Justice Department to put into the hands.
Of drug cartels operating broken Mexico.
And did the United States and then -- -- four agencies involved.
At least knowing about the operation.
Well Lou we know that there were multiple agencies because that's what we call -- -- a death cases trade -- and organized crime case which requires.
The agencies to be working together it also requires.
Direct approvals from.
Washington DC from the top levels of the criminal section in the Department of Justice we know this just from the policies.
So what why and -- have requested and the line of my questioning before the attorney general.
Was to ask for the affidavits in support of the wiretap applications which were part of this.
Investigation.
Of believing that within those wiretap applications.
Will be clear information laid out about.
Not only what agencies may have known among themselves but what.
Frankly high level people on the criminal justice section of the criminal section.
Would read and know themselves so we think it goes right to the highest levels of the criminal division in justice com.
