September 22, 2011
— Ace Newell's testimony was said even by Democrats to be "frustrating," which is a euphemism for "unhelpful," which is itself a euphemism for "evasive."
Ah. Well, now he'll fix that with a "supplemental statement" to the record.
Prepared with significant input from his lawyers, I assume.
“After taking time to reflect and review my testimony from the hearing on July 26, 2011, I realize I could have given clearer, more complete and more direct responses to some questions,” former Special Agent in Charge William Newell said in a 12-page document submitted to the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and obtained by Fox News.In a “supplemental statement,” Newell insisted agents did not knowingly allow thousands of weapons to reach criminal hands. Any concerns raised over the program were never voiced to appropriate authorities, he said, and only once did higher-ups tell agents not to arrest a suspect -- when the safety of the agents was in jeopardy.
He tried to emphasize his points during the July hearing, but even Democrats then described his testimony, under oath, as “quite frustrating.”
Of nearly 2,000 weapons sold to suspected “straw” purchasers over several months, the ATF was notified in time and able to monitor the purchase of only 325 firearms, Newell said. In fact, of the 2,000 weapons sold to suspects, 400 of them were sold before “Fast and Furious” ever launched. Still, Newell acknowledged ATF “was able to proactively and lawfully” seize only a third of the 325 weapons under ATF surveillance.
“With 20/20 hindsight, I now see that I should have conducted more frequent assessments,” Newell said in his filing. “With more regular assessments I could have articulated to my staff the need to be proactive in ascertaining the quantity of guns being purchased that we were not able to intercept.”
He claims he could not track the guns that showed up at the Brian Terry murder later, because tracking only occurred once the ATF had been made aware of the sale, and the ATF was not so notified until three days later.
But... the ATF is also telling these dealers just to let the guns walk. How can the ATF possibly think about tracking the guns when they've ordered dealers (against their own judgment) to sell them without any hassle?
Newell's claim is that the ATF couldn't have tracked the guns, due to circumstances; but those circumstances were created -- intentionally-- by the ATF.
He doubles down on the claim that he knew of no problems, none at all, with this bizarre operation:
In his new filing, Newell also tried to push back on suggestions from whistleblowers and others that ATF agents had repeatedly raised concerns about “Fast and Furious,” insisting he was “unaware” of any such concerns until they were voiced publicly on TV.“To me, the stark absence of contemporaneous documents voicing concerns to supervisors over 'guns walking,' establishes quite convincingly that concerns over alleged 'gun walking' were not raised with the appropriate supervisors in the Phoenix Field Division during the operational phase of this investigation,” Newell said in his filing.
In addition, he said there is a “well-established process” for voicing concerns to ATF's Internal Affairs Division or Office of the Ombudsman, and, “To the best of my knowledge, at no time during the operational phase of the ‘Fast and Furious’ investigation did any of the whistleblowers contact [them] with concerns regarding the investigation.”
Posted by: Ace at
10:18 AM
| Comments (83)
Post contains 582 words, total size 4 kb.
William Newell is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure - junior edition.
Posted by: Sean Bannion at September 22, 2011 10:25 AM (sbV1u)
Back in my retail days the company had a saying, M.A.P. meaning My Attitude is Positive. Of course what we took it to mean was My Ass is Protected.
I'm seeing a lot of MAP going on here.
Posted by: Bosk at September 22, 2011 10:25 AM (n2K+4)
They speak of 'tracking' guns like they are on an episode of CSI.
This was nothing more than a vehicle to create data / evidence on US guns crossing into Mexico and contributing to violent crime.
Posted by: garrett at September 22, 2011 10:25 AM (LiiJT)
Not only is Obama a SCofMF, he has, it almost seems purposefully, promoted an atmosphere of clusterfuckery throughout his entire administration.
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at September 22, 2011 10:26 AM (f9c2L)
My money's on Newt dancing into the subject. Why do we not want him to be President, again?
Oh, yeah ...
Posted by: Meiczyslaw at September 22, 2011 10:26 AM (bjRNS)
Posted by: Dave at September 22, 2011 10:26 AM (Xm1aB)
Posted by: Vic at September 22, 2011 10:26 AM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: © Sponge at September 22, 2011 10:27 AM (UK9cE)
Posted by: Dave at September 22, 2011 10:28 AM (Xm1aB)
They speak of 'tracking' guns like they are on an episode of CSI.
This was nothing more than a vehicle to create data / evidence on US guns crossing into Mexico and contributing to violent crime.
Posted by: garrett...........
Indeed. The sole purpose of this operation was to identify American sold guns after the fact - after a crime was committed with them - to bolster their anti-gun stance. The "tracking" was entirely meant to be ex post facto.
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at September 22, 2011 10:28 AM (f9c2L)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at September 22, 2011 10:28 AM (8y9MW)
Ah,well. Ok then.
CASE CLOSED!!!!!
Posted by: © Sponge at September 22, 2011 10:29 AM (UK9cE)
We'll see if Chris Wallace brings it up.
Posted by: Ben at September 22, 2011 02:23 PM (wuv1c)
Are you a flake?
Posted by: Chris Wallace at September 22, 2011 10:30 AM (UK9cE)
I had wondered where Sandy Berger went
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:30 AM (h+qn8)
Y'know, that should be everyone's opening statement in the debate.
Or maybe: "I'd like to disagree with my distinguished colleague from Texas. I think Barack Obama is a stammering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure."
Posted by: Meiczyslaw at September 22, 2011 10:31 AM (bjRNS)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at September 22, 2011 10:31 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Dave at September 22, 2011 10:31 AM (Xm1aB)
Posted by: Meiczyslaw at September 22, 2011 10:31 AM (bjRNS)
Posted by: The Dog Who Didn't Bark at September 22, 2011 10:33 AM (h6mPj)
I wonder how many "S" words we could come up with there.
Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.
Barack Obama is a stammering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.
Barack Obama is a stupid clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.
Barack Obama is a spoiled clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.
Barack Obama is a sh!tbrained clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.
Any other good ones?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at September 22, 2011 10:33 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at September 22, 2011 02:33 PM (8y9MW)
Socialist?
Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch at September 22, 2011 10:34 AM (fk/lm)
Posted by: we'refkd.gov at September 22, 2011 10:34 AM (D8vUP)
It's still a dumb question. Who's going to answer "yes, yes I am"?
Posted by: Waterhouse at September 22, 2011 10:34 AM (u83UF)
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:34 AM (h+qn8)
Posted by: Dave at September 22, 2011 10:34 AM (Xm1aB)
Posted by: ciceroskip at September 22, 2011 10:34 AM (3m9Uc)
Meh. Except that he's the Chair of the House Oversight Committee, I know nothing about him. Like the endorsement Perry got yesterday to which my response is, "um, who?"
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at September 22, 2011 10:35 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Navycopjoe aka uber palinista at September 22, 2011 10:35 AM (iGzDt)
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:35 AM (h+qn8)
I wonder if this will come up at the debate tonight? Fast and Furious, Solyndra and Lightsquared have been absent from previous debates.
You would think presidential corruption would be a valid topic.
Governor Romney, Congresswoman Bachmann: How deeply involved is Governor Perry in this operation? Shouldn't he be required to prove any action he might have taken to expose the issue?
Posted by: Chris Wallace at September 22, 2011 10:35 AM (+KHIt)
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:36 AM (h+qn8)
Dodge, evade, double-talk, equivocate, run-around, obfuscate.
Thats all they ever do. And the OdipO admin will do nothing.
Waiter? yes, I would like to order a special prosecutor. Thank you. Oh, and a case of value-rite.
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at September 22, 2011 10:36 AM (jiVmv)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 22, 2011 10:37 AM (z/Mo8)
Sooo... letting over 2000 guns be illegaly purchased did not set up any warning signals to THIS guy?
He didn't think anything was wrong with it because no one would put their Carreer on the Line to tell their Boss it was stupid???
Even after this guy gave an oath to Faithfully enforce the Law?
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 22, 2011 10:37 AM (NtXW4)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Lonely Unicorns at September 22, 2011 10:37 AM (bxiXv)
Any other good ones?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at September 22, 2011 02:33 PM (8y9MW)
Supercilious
Snobbish
Superfluous
Senseless
Sociopathic
Posted by: Insomniac at September 22, 2011 10:39 AM (DrWcr)
This is like the end of Rustler's Rhapsody, when Andy Griffith is looking at the dozens of people lying on the ground with bullets in them and saying, "Gosh, Rex. I can't help but feel a little bit responsible for all this. Would a sincere 'I'm sorry' do?"
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 22, 2011 02:37 PM (z/Mo
well it seems to be a habit, they just do stuff before thinking. solyndra, fast and furious. lightscribe etc..
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:39 AM (h+qn8)
Posted by: yinzer at September 22, 2011 10:39 AM (/Mla1)
Posted by: The Federal Cover-Your-Ass Style Guide at September 22, 2011 10:39 AM (FabC8)
So what now unemployed television screen writers are advising WH? Dang if this didn't see this on cable already.
Posted by: sonnyspats at September 22, 2011 10:39 AM (I/MzF)
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:40 AM (h+qn8)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 22, 2011 02:37 PM (z/Mo
Worse, this guy is saying that No SUBORDINATE would Tell Me I wasn't doing my job... so not doing my Job is not my fault...
Posted by: Romeo13 at September 22, 2011 10:40 AM (NtXW4)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Lonely Unicorns at September 22, 2011 10:40 AM (bxiXv)
Tracking Gunwalker guns = finding them discarded at Mexican crime scenes (don't forget to clean off the gore so you can read the serial numbers)
No matter how you cut it, even if the intentions were pure the end result of this idiocy was going to be lots of dead Mexicans. And no way in hell do I believe that the ATF's intentions were pure.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at September 22, 2011 10:40 AM (6BvaE)
Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch at September 22, 2011 10:42 AM (fk/lm)
Posted by: Navycopjoe aka uber palinista at September 22, 2011 10:43 AM (iGzDt)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of Lonely Unicorns at September 22, 2011 10:43 AM (bxiXv)
No, he was just being his normal liberal dick self. She had not yet gone off the deep end because her campaign was doing good.
Posted by: Vic at September 22, 2011 10:44 AM (M9Ie6)
These scumbags need to be perp walked into a Federal pen and left to rot until the family of the Border Guard who was killed decides to show some mercy.
I hate these SCOAMF's with the intensity of the sun.
Posted by: BIG ROB at September 22, 2011 10:44 AM (hr33h)
Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at September 22, 2011 10:44 AM (ZDUD4)
I should have added , and there seems to be a decided lack of outrage from the media.
The bastards in the MFM ain't gonna get outraged over a bunch of dead brown guys, unless it includes their gardeners.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at September 22, 2011 10:46 AM (6BvaE)
Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at September 22, 2011 10:47 AM (ZDUD4)
Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at September 22, 2011 10:48 AM (cbyrC)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at September 22, 2011 10:48 AM (z/Mo8)
Posted by: Navycopjoe aka uber palinista at September 22, 2011 10:48 AM (iGzDt)
It's still a dumb question. Who's going to answer "yes, yes I am"?
Posted by: Waterhouse
We might.
Posted by: Phineas and Ferb at September 22, 2011 10:49 AM (6rX0K)
I'm never going to be able to retire.
Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch at September 22, 2011 02:42
at this rate, i'm looking kinda forward to the death panels.
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:52 AM (h+qn8)
maybe dissapointed but not surprised. Issa is a member in good standing of the Party leadership. The Party leadership is all moderate "its his turn" idiots.
The same type of idiot that gave us Bob Dole and McCain.
Posted by: Vic at September 22, 2011 10:52 AM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: Navycopjoe aka uber palinista at September 22, 2011 10:53 AM (iGzDt)
Posted by: Vic at September 22, 2011 02:44 PM (M9Ie6)
Similar questions Cwissy wouldn't have asked:
Bill Clinton, are you a predator?
Howard Dean, do you self-medicate?
Hillary, do you munch Huma's carpet?
Schmucky, are you a tireless camera hound?
Bawney, did you fart on the air from being fisted so often?
Durbin, are you retarded?
Posted by: Captain Hate at September 22, 2011 10:54 AM (7dMdC)
Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 10:55 AM (h+qn8)
Posted by: Da Effin' Zero at September 22, 2011 11:04 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch at September 22, 2011 11:08 AM (fk/lm)
Newell tries to undo the damage of his testimony by sending this nice DOJ lawyer-crafted letter "explaining" what he couldn't under oath.
Posted by: TXMarko at September 22, 2011 11:22 AM (m42ce)
Of course that isn't exactly "preserving and defending the Constitution of the United States" now is it agent Newell? What exactly was the job that We The F*cking People paid you to do?
Agent Newell, when you lie under oath that is perjury; its when a prosecutor can prove you lied under oath that you are convicted of perjury.
And by the way when this is the best defense you can dream up:
“With 20/20 hindsight, I now see that I should have conducted more frequent assessments,” Newell said in his filing. “With more regular assessments I could have articulated to my staff the need to be proactive in ascertaining the quantity of guns being purchased that we were not able to intercept.”
you are in really bad shape. You do realize that you are trying to disguise deliberate malfeasance as industrial strength negligence don't you? Would you like to try revision 2.0 of your testimony? Perhaps... the dog ate your memos? Yeah, that's the ticket.
The problem is that somebody is lying - either the whistle blower or agent Newell. Lets see if we can figure out who that liar is shall we? Applying a little of the Ace of Spades detective work that caught Congressman Weiner we get:
Agent Newell's motivation for lying would be an attempt to keep his ass out of Federal Prison.
The whistle blower's motivation for lying would be... hmmm... it is difficult to see why the whistle blower would put his whole career on the line just to lie... particularly since his testimony was backed up by the gun dealers statements about what happened... hmmm...wait I've got it - the dog ate his motivation - that's why we can't figure it out.
So, looks like you're home free agent Newell. We'll go after everyone else - not you. Seriously clown if you can't fool morons who do you think you're fooling? Man, I sure wouldn't want your future.
Posted by: An Observation at September 22, 2011 11:24 AM (ylhEn)
Gee Ace wasn't it you that said this wasn't the Reichstag fire. Now that it is clear that the ATF attempted to discredit senators, hid the FBI's involvement, actually fed weapons to gangs inside the USA, one wonders when this cover up merits serious investigation and concern. If this isn't a case that merits impeachment I wonder what does.
But then again we all know that this wasn't intentional or anything. Just like Nixon's lying about Watergate wasn't intentional.
Posted by: Molon Labe at September 22, 2011 11:30 AM (S7K8x)
Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at September 22, 2011 11:34 AM (cbyrC)
Posted by: Lord Humungus Wasteland Teahadi at September 22, 2011 12:04 PM (Yv6gq)
Posted by: steevy at September 22, 2011 12:24 PM (fyOgS)
Actually its more of a Fisking - combined with sarcastic humor than a rant - but hey, thanks for posting your comment - it adds a lot to the conversation. I'm sure there were a lot of people who found what you had to say insightful.
Posted by: An Observation at September 22, 2011 01:05 PM (ylhEn)
Posted by: The Detachment AudioBook at September 22, 2011 06:00 PM (+uroR)
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I wonder if this will come up at the debate tonight? Fast and Furious, Solyndra and Lightsquared have been absent from previous debates.
You would think presidential corruption would be a valid topic.
We'll see if Chris Wallace brings it up.
Posted by: Ben at September 22, 2011 10:23 AM (wuv1c)