Difference between revisions of "Operation Fast and Furious/take them down"

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(Created page with "{{subpage}} ==About== A [http://www.grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/2012-06-29-CEG-DEI-to-DOJ-OIG-Thomasson-whistleblower-retaliation.pdf letter] from Republicans [[Darrell I...")
 
(fixed munged chars; update on COGR site)
 
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==About==
 
==About==
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A [http://www.grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/2012-06-29-CEG-DEI-to-DOJ-OIG-Thomasson-whistleblower-retaliation.pdf letter] from Republicans [[Darrell Issa]] and [[Chuck Grassley]] to [[Michael Horowitz]] alleges that ATF PR chief [[Scot Thomasson]] said "We need to get whatever dirt we can on these guys [the whistleblowers] and take them down".
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A [[../Issa memo|memorandum]] from [[Darrell Issa]] on {{date|2012-05-03}} states that:
  
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This letter cites as evidence a document released on May 3 entitled "Memorandum from Chairman Darrell Issa to Members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform", but so far we have not been able to locate this document online.
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<blockquote>
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One confidential witness told Congress that he overheard Scot Thomasson, chief ATF spokesman, say early on in the congressional inquiry into Fast and Furious: "We need to get whatever dirt we can on these guys [the whistleblowers] and take them down."
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</blockquote>
  
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Attempting to do research via the [[Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]]'s "Operation Fast and Furious" [http://issues.oversight.house.gov/fastandfurious/ investigation area] encounters the following obstacles:
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This would seem to indicate that the testimony took place in a hearing to which there were other witnesses, and possibly under oath -- but since the testimony was "confidential" and no date is given, tracking it down may be quite difficult.
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==Links==
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* '''2013-06-29'''
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** [http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/29/issa-grassley-release-details-about-fast-and-furious-whistleblower-retaliation-cover-up/ Issa, Grassley release details about Fast and Furious whistleblower retaliation, cover-up]: cites [http://www.grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/2012-06-29-CEG-DEI-to-DOJ-OIG-Thomasson-whistleblower-retaliation.pdf Grassley/Issa letter], which cites {{l/same|Issa memo}} but gives insufficient information for locating it
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** [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-57464286-10391695/fast-and-furious-whistleblowers-now-supervised-by-atf-manager-who-allegedly-threatened-retaliation/ Fast and Furious whistleblowers now supervised by ATF manager who allegedly threatened retaliation]: cites Grassley/Issa letter
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* '''2013-06-30''' [http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/06/atfs-fast-and-furious-coverup-exposed.php ATF'S Fast and Furious Coverup Exposed]: cites Daily Caller post
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==Notes==
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Earlier attempts to locate this document via the "Operation Fast and Furious" [http://issues.oversight.house.gov/fastandfurious/ investigation area] set up by the [[Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]] (COGR) encountered the following obstacles:
 
* There is no on-site search function.
 
* There is no on-site search function.
 
* About half of the menu links go to 404 pages. ("KEY PLAYERS & PLACES", "INVESTIGATION", and "VIDEO & COMMENTARY")
 
* About half of the menu links go to 404 pages. ("KEY PLAYERS & PLACES", "INVESTIGATION", and "VIDEO & COMMENTARY")
 
* Using Google to search the COGR site for the phrase "[https://www.google.com/#output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22take+them+down%22&oq=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22take+them+down%22&gs_l=hp.12...1455.25680.0.69073.23.23.0.0.0.0.2213.14469.3-5j8j7j1j9-2.23.0...0.0...1c.1.15.psy-ab.kwQ4cow_JnI&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmg&fp=aa4f0d93bffcfb2&biw=1363&bih=661 take them down]" returns no results.
 
* Using Google to search the COGR site for the phrase "[https://www.google.com/#output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22take+them+down%22&oq=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22take+them+down%22&gs_l=hp.12...1455.25680.0.69073.23.23.0.0.0.0.2213.14469.3-5j8j7j1j9-2.23.0...0.0...1c.1.15.psy-ab.kwQ4cow_JnI&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmg&fp=aa4f0d93bffcfb2&biw=1363&bih=661 take them down]" returns no results.
 
* Using Google to search the COGR site for "[https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&q=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22Thomasson%22&oq=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22Thomasson%22&gs_l=hp.3...28127.29676.1.30788.9.9.0.0.0.7.840.5223.4-2j6j1.9.0...0.0...1c.1.15.psy-ab.SZeb3tNz0kg&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmg&fp=aa4f0d93bffcfb2&biw=1363&bih=661 Thomasson]" also returns no results.
 
* Using Google to search the COGR site for "[https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&q=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22Thomasson%22&oq=site:issues.oversight.house.gov+%22Thomasson%22&gs_l=hp.3...28127.29676.1.30788.9.9.0.0.0.7.840.5223.4-2j6j1.9.0...0.0...1c.1.15.psy-ab.SZeb3tNz0kg&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.dmg&fp=aa4f0d93bffcfb2&biw=1363&bih=661 Thomasson]" also returns no results.
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* As of 2014-12-04, the "fastandfuriousinvestigation.com" domain name -- which was used for what appears to have been the main substance of the site -- is up for sale, and no longer attached to any information related to F&F.
  
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This essentially leaves us taking Issa's and Grassley's word that Thomasson said this -- based only on an unavailable memorandum apparently authored by Issa. Unless that memorandum in turn has actual evidence to support the quote, we would then be left to take Issa's word -- and since Issa is a known liar with a criminal history, this seems a dubious proposition at best.
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It is curious that the COGR would not make this document more easily available.

Latest revision as of 22:39, 4 December 2014

About

A memorandum from Darrell Issa on 2012-05-03 states that:

One confidential witness told Congress that he overheard Scot Thomasson, chief ATF spokesman, say early on in the congressional inquiry into Fast and Furious: "We need to get whatever dirt we can on these guys [the whistleblowers] and take them down."

This would seem to indicate that the testimony took place in a hearing to which there were other witnesses, and possibly under oath -- but since the testimony was "confidential" and no date is given, tracking it down may be quite difficult.

Links

Notes

Earlier attempts to locate this document via the "Operation Fast and Furious" investigation area set up by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (COGR) encountered the following obstacles:

  • There is no on-site search function.
  • About half of the menu links go to 404 pages. ("KEY PLAYERS & PLACES", "INVESTIGATION", and "VIDEO & COMMENTARY")
  • Using Google to search the COGR site for the phrase "take them down" returns no results.
  • Using Google to search the COGR site for "Thomasson" also returns no results.
  • As of 2014-12-04, the "fastandfuriousinvestigation.com" domain name -- which was used for what appears to have been the main substance of the site -- is up for sale, and no longer attached to any information related to F&F.

It is curious that the COGR would not make this document more easily available.

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