Real Clear Politics: Rep. Issa: Operation Fast & Furious Went To The White House

[Patricia M. McBride]

I think many had no doubt that the White House was involved in the decision to put these guns out there, and heads should roll for it including Obama's head if he knew and allowed this action to move forward.

 

Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California) says it is now very apparent, if it was not before, that the White House was deeply connected in the "Fast & Furious" mission where guns were trafficked across the US-Mexico border. Mr. Issa appeared on FOX News' "Special Report" program to discuss the matter. Transcript below.

BAIER: Now to operation "Fast and Furious," your investigation there.

You sent a letter to the White House, asking for William Newell, the special agent in charge of the ATF Phoenix field office and Kevin O'Reilly, director of North American Affairs -- American Affairs National Security Council staff, an e-mail exchange between the two of them and I'll quote from your letter.

The e-mail says, quote, "When a 22-year-old kid on state financial assistance walks into a gun store and plops down $12,000 in cash to buy a tripod mounted 50 caliber rifle, that's a clue even for us that he's involved in trafficking firearms to a Mexican DTO, in other words, moving this to cartels. Is this -- do you believe, evidence that this goes all the way to the White House?

Read more here:  http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/09/14/rep_issa_operatio...