Agents say DOJ still being untruthful about efforts to let guns 'walk' into hands of drug cartels 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today released a report, "The Department of Justice's Operation Fast and Furious: Accounts of ATF Agents."  The report includes testimony from four Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents offering firsthand accounts about the controversial Operation Fast and Furious that allowed suspects to walk away with illegally purchased guns.  Two of the approximately 2,000 guns that ATF let criminals walk away with were found at the murder scene of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010.

"ATF agents have shared chilling accounts of being ordered to stand down as criminals in Arizona walked away with guns headed for Mexican drug cartels," said Rep. Issa.  "With the clinical precision of a lab experiment, the Justice Department kept records of weapons they let walk and the crime scenes where they next appeared.  To agents' shock, preventing loss of life was not the primary concern."

Highlights of the report include :

• The supervisor of Operation Fast and Furious was "jovial, if not, not giddy but just delighted about" walked guns showing up at crime scenes in Mexico according to an ATF agent. (p. 37)
• Another ATF agent told the committee about a prediction he made a year ago that "someone was going to die" and that the gunwalking operation would be the subject of a Congressional investigation. (p. 24)
• The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords created a "state of panic" within the group conducting the operation as they initially feared a "walked" gun might have been used. (p. 38)
• One  Operation Fast and Furious Agent:  "I cannot see anyone who has one iota of concern for human life being okay with this ..."  (p. 27)
• An ATF agent predicted to committee investigators that more deaths will occur as a result of Operation Fast and Furious. (p.39)
• Multiple agents told the committee that continued assertions by Department of Justice Officials that guns were not knowingly "walked" and that DOJ tried to stop their transport to Mexico are clearly untruthful.  (p. 45-50)

Click here for a copy of the report: "The Department of Justice's Operation Fast and Furious: Accounts of ATF Agents."

CHICAGO - June 14, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 1686
Allows for an exception to the Liquor Control Act to promote economic development in Chicago.
An Act Concerning: Liquor
Action: Signed                        
Effective Date: Immediately 

Bill No.: HB 3207
Removes any potential fiscal liability the state might accrue absent federal approval of the recently enacted nursing home assessment and payment enhancements.
An Act Concerning: Public Aid
Action: Signed                        
Effective Date: Immediately 

Bill No.: HB 3441
Allows the Comprehensive Health Insurance Board to extend the term of a plan administrator contract for up to three years.
An Act Concerning: Insurance
Action: Signed                        
Effective Date: Immediately 

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Nearly 20 Soldiers Mobilize June 21 As Part of an Embedded Training Team

SPRINGFIELD, IL (06/14/2011)(readMedia)-- A deployment ceremony is scheduled for approximately 20 Soldiers who will deploy to Afghanistan as part of an embedded training team. The ceremony for the Bilateral Embedded Staff Team (BEST) A8 will be June 21 at 1 p.m. at the Illinois Military Academy at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

The BEST Soldiers will train for a brief time at Camp Atterbury, Ind., before deploying to Poland for approximately two months to train with the Polish Land Forces. The unique mission allows Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers to train and deploy side-by-side with their Polish counterparts. Following the training, the Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan for a six-month mobilization. The Soldiers are from various parts of Illinois and were selected for the mission based on their training and skills.

"This mobilization illustrates the diverse skill sets and training of our Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers and the variety of missions we support in today's challenging international environment, as well as in our state and community," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "These troops are instrumental in helping train foreign Soldiers to defend their country while polishing our Guardsmen's skills."

The team will assist the Afghan government to extend its authority across the country, perform security operations and help stabilize the war-torn nation. The Soldiers will also mentor and support the Afghan National Army and support Afghan government programs to disarm illegally armed groups.

News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony and are required to notify the Public Affairs Office by 8 a.m., June 21 or they will not be allowed access onto Camp Lincoln. For more information call the Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569.

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WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley today is introducing legislation to make permanent the E-Verify program, a web-based tool that allows employers to verify the work eligibility of new employees.  The bill would also require that all employers use the E-Verify program within one year of enactment of the legislation.  Grassley's legislation also makes several needed improvements to the program.

"E-Verify has already proven effective in combating the hiring of illegal aliens. It's a simple tool for employers who want to comply with the law in a digital age when sophisticated, fraudulent documents are just the stroke of a computer key away," Grassley said. "This legislation allows us to hold employers accountable while giving them the tools needed to abide by the law in their hiring practices."

The E-verify program, formerly the basic pilot program, was first authorized in 1996 and only five states were allowed to participate.  The program was reauthorized in 2001, expanded in 2003 by Grassley, and reauthorized again in 2008.  E-verify is currently used by 269,913 employers.  Since the system was created, improvements have been made to significantly decrease error rates including an appeal process, a self check option for people to make sure their information is correct, and a photo-tool capability to improve the ability of employers to determine if the employee and the photo match.

Here are the provisions of the legislation. 

• Makes permanent the E-Verify program that was created in 1996.
• Makes E-Verify mandatory for all employers within one year of date of enactment
• Clarifies that federal contractors and the Federal Government (executive and legislative branches) must use it, and allows the Secretary to require "critical employers" to use it immediately.
• Increases penalties for employers who don't use the system or illegally hire undocumented workers.
• Reduces the liability that employers face if they participate in E-Verify when it involves the wrongful termination of an individual.
• Allows employers to use E-Verify before a person is hired, if the applicant consents.
• Requires employers to check the status of existing employees within 3 years.
• Requires employers to re-verify a person's status if their employment authorization is due to expire.
• Requires employers to terminate the employment of those found unauthorized to work due to a check through E-Verify.
• Helps ensure that the Social Security Administration catches multiple use of Social Security numbers by requiring them to develop algorithms to detect anomalies.
• Amends the criminal code to make clear that defendants who possess or otherwise use identity information not their own without lawful authority and in the commission of another felony is still punishable for aggravated identity fraud, regardless of the defendant's "knowledge" of the victim.
• Establishes a demonstration project in a rural area or area without internet capabilities to assist small businesses in complying with the participation requirement.
• Provides an offset to pay for any upgrades or expenses required by the legislation using unobligated funds from various departments.

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