ATF head Kenneth Melson reassigned in shakeup following gun-trafficking probe

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

The ATF head has been reassigned amid an investigation into a controversial U.S. gun-trafficking operation, part of a a broader shakeup at the Justice Department in which the U.S. attorney in Phoenix is stepping down, people familiar with the moves said Tuesday.

Kenneth E. Melson, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, will become a senior advisor on forensic science in the department’s Office of Legal Policy. He will be replaced at ATF by B. Todd Jones, the U.S. attorney in Minnesota, the department said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/atf-head-kenneth-melson-reassigned-amid-gun-trafficking-probe/2011/08/30/gIQAjALppJ_story.html

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Sounds a bit like the Catholic church.

[gratuitous]

2. What? Who could have predicted?

You hand out a slew of weapons to a bunch of ruthless, bloodthirsty gangsters and drug lords, and people get shot left and right? How in the world was Melson supposed to know that might happen?

[dipsydoodle]

3. Fast and Furious: US officials resign over gun sting

Source: BBC News

The acting director of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the US attorney in Arizona are resigning over a botched operation to track the flow of guns to Mexico.

The ATF's Kenneth Melson had recently faced pressure by Congress to resign.

Operation Fast and Furious saw US agents allowing thousands of guns into Mexico illegally with the hope of tracing them to major arms dealers.

But hundreds of guns went missing and dozens have turned up at crime scenes.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14725364

[gateley]

4. Looked good on paper...

:eyes:

[dogmoma56]

5. only 2 that were going to retire anyway...

[udbcrzy2]

6. My hinky meter is going off on this one