Main article:
ATF gunwalking scandal
ATF Project Gunrunner has a stated official objective to stop the sale and export of guns from the United States into Mexico in order to deny Mexican drug cartels the firearms considered "tools of the trade".
[21] However, since 2006 under Operation Wide Receiver (2006-2007), Hernandez Case (2007), Medrano Case (200
and
Operation Fast and Furious (2009-2011), the Phoenix offices of ATF and USAO did the opposite by permitting, encouraging and facilitating '
straw purchase' firearm sales to traffickers, and allowing the guns to 'walk' and be transported to Mexico.
[22][23] A firearm linked to Operation Fast and Furious was used to kill US border agent Brian Terry and has generated considerable controversy.
[3][24][25][26]
Senator
Charles E. Grassley (
R-IA) initiated an investigation with a letter to
ATF on 27 January 2011,
[27] and again on 31 January 2011. ATF responded through the
Department of Justice by denying all allegations.
[28] Senator Grassley responded with specific documentation supporting the allegations in letters to
U.S. Attorney General Holder on 9 Feb 2011
[29] and 16 Feb 2011.
[30] ATF refused to answer specific questions in a formal briefing to Senator Grassley on 10 Feb 2011.[
citation needed]
In October 2011, documents were released that indicated Justice Department officials were sent memos in regards to Operation Fast and Furious in 2010.
[31]
Indictments filed in federal court, documentation obtained by
Senator Grassley, and statements of ATF agents obtained by Senator Grassley and
CBS News, show that the ATF Phoenix Field Division allowed and facilitated the sale of over 2,500 firearms (AK-47 rifles, FN 5.7mm pistols, AK-47 pistols, and .50 caliber rifles) in '
straw man purchases' destined for Mexico.
[24][32][33][34][35][36] According to ATF agents, Mexican officials were not notified, and ATF agents operating in Mexico were instructed not to alert Mexican authorities about the operation.
[37] Under Fast and Furious, the ATF attache at the Mexico City Office (MCO) was not notified (unlike Wide Receiver and most other cases).
[38]
Some ATF agents and supervisors strongly objected, and gun dealers (who were cooperating with ATF) protested the sales, but were asked by ATF to complete the transactions to expose the supply chain and gather intelligence
There are a lot of major differences between the two programs, hopefully you can read and understand what you are reading, the two were not the same, matter of fact one of your political hacks by the name of chuck Grassley was outraged by this program,