05 Jul 2012

Grassley asks for Justice Department records of field agent memo on Fast and Furious

By Grassley Press

ATF agent describes discussion of operation one day before Justice Department denial

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today asked Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. for information about who at the Department of Justice (DOJ) saw a memo from a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who was stationed at the Phoenix field division and was knowledgeable about Operation Fast and Furious.  This memo was produced the day before the Department of Justice flat out denied there was a program underway to let guns walk to straw buyers.

In a letter to Attorney General Holder this afternoon, Grassley said the memo traveled rapidly through the chain of command at ATF and was allegedly forwarded to DOJ headquarters on February 3, 2011, in advance of the February 4, 2011, denial by DOJ.  Grassley's office has been told that the substance of the memo "caused such a stir that ATF planned to put a panel together to address the allegations but someone within DOJ suppressed the idea."  The details in the agent's memo would have provided DOJ officials important information about what, in fact, was happening in Operation Fast and Furious.

Grassley said he is asking questions today because discovering how high up the chain of command the memo was reviewed "has not been easy."  His requests to interview officials who might corroborate accounts has been denied, and DOJ may have withheld relevant documents from what it said were the deliberative materials used to draft the February 4, 2011, letter.  Ultimately, in the face of mounting evidence presented by Grassley and others, DOJ withdrew its February 4 denial.

"Without the complete, documented set of facts, fair and informed conclusions can't be drawn, and the Justice Department's lack of transparency about what it knew and when about Operation Fast and Furious is unacceptable, especially in light of the connections to the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and an unknown number of Mexican citizens," Grassley said.

Click here to read today's letter from Grassley to Holder, which includes a copy of the February 3, 2011, memo by the ATF agent.
05 Jul 2012

Empower Kids by Giving Them 'Keys to Peace'

By Rick Martin
Well-Meaning Parents Often Fail to Teach Vital Values, Author Says

Parents and educators are always trying to spark student participation whether it's in the classroom, in the local community, or throughout the world.

When middle-school students at Allison Academy in North Miami Beach were asked what they could do to improve their country, they focused on what they understood - bullying, violence and racism.

Those problems are all rooted in the same issues, says Rachel Albert, author of "Quest to Telos," (www.QuestToTelos.com), a young adult novel where fantasy meets reality and even world peace is possible.

"They stem from a lack of personal integrity and absence of social responsibility," she says.

"Children who choose to put those values into practice are actively working toward peace. But they can only put into practice what they've learned; instilling those values may seem simple, but many parents miss the mark and actually model the opposite."

Throwing money at social problems like racism or violence doesn't resolve them, Albert says. But children can.

"The energy from kids' excitement can make a real difference and we need their energy focused right here at home," says the mother of four. "They see problems; it's up to us to give them the tools to address them."

The following tips can help parents teach their children personal integrity and social responsibility, giving them the keys to world peace.

• Never lie in front of your kids. It may seem obvious, but many parents lie in front of their children or encourage them to lie; misstating a child's age to save money on movie tickets or allowing them to take credit for school projects completed by the parent.  These seemingly inconsequential lies suggest it's OK, even good, to distort the truth. This causes long-term damage a million times more costly than whatever was gained in the short term.

• Give your kids a reason why. Author Mark Twain once said that the two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why.  If you fail to tell your kids why we are here, you have missed the opportunity to
figure out what motivates them and gets them excited. This is the most important key to getting kids' cooperation and empowering them to help the world.

• Don't criticize your children. Criticism is toxic, so why do almost all parents criticize their kids?  When we focus on what they aren't, they believe they can't. This creates angry children who express their pain by bullying others.  It's better to tell them how you feel rather than what you think of them, e.g., "I feel frustrated that you didn't listen to me," or "Can you say that in a more loving way?"

• Don't speak badly about other people. This is probably one of the hardest things to do, considering we're a generation that pays for gossip.  Speaking badly about others teaches kids to look for what they view as the negative in others and take joy in sharing it.

• Model charity. Actions speak louder than any words. When you teach kindness to children, they tend to feel empathy and have more successful lives, a crucial step toward achieving world peace.

Once we tackle the issues plaguing America, then as a model nation, we will be ready to tackle world peace, Albert says. Kids are hungry to form an identity and make their mark on the world. It's easier to try to bring peace to another country, but that never works. We need to start at home.

About Rachel Albert

Rachel Albert is a certified court reporter and business owner. "Quest to Telos" is her debut novel; it's being used by a private school to develop an inspirational, critical-thinking curriculum for middle-school students ready by the summer. Albert is currently working on a sequel. She is a staunch advocate of boosting teen literacy while inspiring kids to make a difference starting with their own hearts.

03 Jul 2012

On Eve of Independence Day, Braley and Sen. Sherrod Brown Urge House Committee to Move on All-American Flag Act

By Jeff Giertz

Senate passed bipartisan bill year ago; House has not acted to keep flags made in USA

 

Washington, D.C. - On the eve of the Independence Day holiday, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) - the authors of the All-American Flag Act, which would require the federal government to purchase 100 percent made-in-America flags - urged the leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to move the bill forward to it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

 

Braley said, "It's just common sense: Americans' tax dollars should be used to purchase flags made in the USA.  The Senate has agreed in a bipartisan vote.  Now, it's time for the House to act.  I urge the Oversight Committee to protect America's greatest symbol and support manufacturers right here in the United States by immediately considering this bill."

 

Brown said, "Under current law, the American flags that fly from federal buildings?on July 4th and every day of the year?may be up to fifty percent foreign-made. Many American companies, including Annin and Company in Coshocton, proudly produce the American flag right here in the United States.  With strong bipartisan support in the Senate, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee should move to discharge the All-American Flag Act and send it to the House floor for a vote. We should do all we can to support American manufacturing and job creation, especially when it comes to our most treasured of patriotic symbols?the American flag."

 

The All-American Flag Act unanimously passed the US Senate in July 2011, but the House has failed to schedule a vote for its companion bill, H.R. 1344, which was introduced by Rep. Braley. The bill must be approved by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in order to be voted on by the full House. Two years ago, the Braley-authored All-American Flag Act passed the House unanimously.

 

For more information on the All-American Flag Act, visit: http://go.usa.gov/wWU

 

Braley and Brown made the request in a letter to Oversight Committee leadership.  The text of that letter follows:

 

The Honorable Darrell Issa

Chairman

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

2157 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

The Honorable Elijah Cummings

Ranking Member

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

2471 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings:

 

As we approach the 4th of July, we are reminded of the importance of the American flag as the symbol of our nation.  Unfortunately, current law requires the government to purchase flags made of only 50 percent American-made materials.  We strongly believe that U.S. flags should consist of only American made materials.

 

That is why we introduced the All-American Flag Act.  This bill would require the federal government to purchase flags that contain 100 percent American-made materials.  In the 111th Congress, both of you supported this legislation when it was passed out of the Oversight Committee.  The bill was later adopted by voice-vote in the House.  Last July, the Senate unanimously passed the All-American Flag Act.

 

As the two primary authors of this legislation, we ask that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee discharge the Senate passed version of the All-American Flag Act so it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.  Given that this legislation has already been passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, we believe that now is the time to see that this legislation is signed into law.

 

American flags should be made in America using American products.  Allowing the government to purchase flags with foreign-made materials is disrespectful to our country.  We urge you to discharge the All-American Flag Act from the House Oversight Committee so it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

 

Thank you for your attention to our request.  We ask that you please reply to our letter within 10 business days with an answer on whether or not the Committee will discharge this legislation.  Please feel free to contact either of us if we can provide further assistance.

 

# # #
03 Jul 2012

Navy's So-called Green Fleet a "Floating Government Boondoggle"

By Ryan Houck

July 3, 2012, Washington, DC?Although traditional fuel costs $3.60 per gallon, the U.S. Navy has opted to power its so-called "Green Fleet" with a biofuel blend that costs $26 per gallon.   Apparently oblivious to staggering budget deficits, the Pentagon has funded the "Green Fleet"?which recently began its 6-week-long exercise in the Pacific?through its green fuels initiative.

"With our nation's defense budget set to lose hundreds of billions of dollars over the next ten years, this floating government boondoggle is a truly astonishing waste of taxpayer money," said Ryan Houck, executive director of Free Market America.  "It is seven times more expensive to fuel the so-called 'green fleet' than to fuel a traditional fleet, begging the question: What vital national defense programs are now on the chopping block thanks to the green agenda?  Members of congress and the Administration should note that when Americans express outrage over wasteful government spending, this is exactly the type of nonsense they are talking about."

The AP posted its story on the "Green Fleet" late yesterday afternoon.  It can read here.

Free Market America is a free market watchdog group that focuses on environmental issues.  In partnership with Americans for Limited Government, the group was launched earlier this year and is responsible for the viral video "If I wanted America to fail"?a runaway hit that scored over 2.4 million views on YouTube.

###

02 Jul 2012

Gov. Quinn Threatens Job Creation in NW Illinois by Offering to Sell Southern IL Prison to Feds

By Andie Pivarunas

Tamms offer would compete with effort to open Thomson as a federal prison

[WASHINGTON]  - Governor Pat Quinn's offer last week to sell a state prison in southern Illinois to the federal government could doom a two-year effort by Illinois' Congressional delegation to create more than 1,100 jobs in northwest Illinois by opening the vacant Thomson Correctional Center as a federal prison.

In a letter to the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons released Friday, Quinn said the 14-year-old Tamms supermax prison - which still houses state prisoners - would be a valuable addition to the federal prison system. Quinn's offer to sell the Tamms Correctional Center comes on the heels of ongoing efforts by U.S. Reps. Don Manzullo (R-IL), Bobby Schilling (R-IL) and other members of Illinois' Congressional delegation to ink a deal for the federal government to purchase the vacant state prison in Thomson, IL and open it as a maximum security federal prison, creating more than 1,100 much-needed jobs in northwest Illinois.

"With his new offer to sell the Tamms state prison to the federal government, Gov. Quinn may have doomed our efforts to open Thomson as a federal prison and create more than 1,100 jobs in northern Illinois," Manzullo said. "In these very tight financial times, we have been working hard to find the federal money needed to buy Thomson, and now the Governor has thrown a new option on the table that will compete with our efforts. The federal government certainly doesn't have the money to buy two state prisons in Illinois."

"The Illinois delegation has been working closely to find a bipartisan way to advance Thomson Prison," Schilling said. "But to really move this forward, we need the Governor to focus in on and join us in our efforts. I remain optimistic that we can get Thomson opened, and will continue working to see it through."

The operation of Thomson as a federal prison is expected to create more than 1,100 jobs and provide $19 million in local labor income and $61 million in local business sales each year. Total local economic impact, both direct and indirect, is expected to be at least $202 million each year. That annual economic impact would provide more than $20 million in direct federal income tax revenue, $6.2 million in direct state income tax revenue, and $3.8 million in sales tax revenue.

###
02 Jul 2012

Governor's office releases list of all appointments made to boards and commissions since March 1

By Rick Martin

(DES MOINES) - The governor's office today released a list of all appointments that have been made to boards and commissions since March 1 of this year. The appointments are as follows:

 

Council on Agricultural Education

Michael Earll, Sibley

Crystal Jauer, Hinton

Larry Marek, Riverside

 

Architectural Examining Board

Emily Forquer, Afton

 

Iowa Arts Council

Linda Grandquist, West Des Moines

Kent Hartwig, Des Moines

Chawne Paige, Waterloo

Frances Parrott, Council Bluffs

Lisa Walsh, Burlington

 

State Banking Council

Surasee Rodari, Des Moines

Gina Sitzmann, Sioux City

 

Advisory Council on Brain Injuries

Thomas Brown, Pleasant Hill

Dennis Byrnes, Atalissa

Roxanne Cogil, Jamaica

Michael Hall, Coralville

Kendalyn Huff, Greenfield

Karen Jones, Norwalk

Jenifer Krischel, Havelock

Joseph Linn, Fairfax

 

State Building Code Advisory Council

Amy Infelt, Coralville

Kristin Mohr, Ankeny

Mark Reetz, West Des Moines

Barbara Welander, Mt. Pleasant

 

Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation

Janet Metcalf, Urbandale

 

Child Advocacy Board

Elaine Sanders, Sioux City

 

City Finance Committee

Kent Anderson, Orange City

Randall Cook, Creston

Chris Ward, West Liberty

Michelle Weidner, Waterloo

 

College Student Aid Commission

Roger Claypool, Le Mars

 

Criminal Justice Information Advisory Committee

John Baldwin, Clive

David Heuton, Altoona

 

Dependent Adult Protective Advisory Council

Michael Owens, Waterloo

 

Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council

Frank Forcucci, Urbandale

Emilea Hillman, Independence

Paul Kiburz, Marion

Barbara McClannahan, Des Moines

Gary Sample, Pleasantville

William Stumpf, Dubuque

Lisa Yunek, Mason City

Aaron Anderson, Mason City

Tonya Fustos, Council Bluffs

Roger Girard, Marion

Koki, Nakagawa, Ames

Nathaniel Pierson, Marion

Alissa Underfer, West Des Moines

 

Iowa Council for Early ACCESS

Jodi Angus, Mount Ayr

Mary Butler, West Des Moines

Maria Cashman, Marion

Chad Dahm, Pella

Gary Guetzko, Dubuque

Julie Hahn, Des Moines

Shari Huecksteadt, Bettendorf

Martin Ikeda, Urbandale

Representative Kevin Koester, Ankeny

Aryn Kruse, Ames

Heather Moorman, Corydon

 

State Board of Education

McKenzie Baker, Forest City

 

State Board of Educational Examiners

Mary Overholtzer, Tingley

 

Interstate Commission on Education Opportunity for Military Children

Martha Kester, Des Moines

Heather Stephenson, Ankeny

 

Electrical Examining Board

Wayne Engle, Marion

John Marino, Clear Lake

Patricia Weese, Bedford

 

Iowa Emergency Response Commission

Robin Pruisner, McCallsburg

 

Fire Services and Emergency Response Council

Mike Bryant, Ames

Gerald Hoffman, Grundy Center

Reylon Meeks, Runnells

Rex Mundt, Ankeny

 

State Board of Health

Ted George, Rockwell City

Jay Hansen, Mason City

Cheryl Straub-Morarend, Coralville

Diane Thomas, Manchester

 

State Historical Records Advisory Board

Shelley Bishop, Council Bluffs

Michael Gibson, Dubuque

Larry Murphy, Ankeny

 

State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees

John Brown, Johnston

Alyse Hunter, Chariton

Jill Wanderscheid, Sioux City

 

Iowa Council on Homelessness

Allan Axeen, Iowa City

Zebulon Beikle-McCallum, Urbandale

David Boss, New Hampton

Ann Davidson, Fort Dodge

Carrie Dunnwald, Waterloo

Rebecca Falck, Oskaloosa

Mariliegh Fisher, Cedar Falls

David Hagen, Cedar Rapids

Kristine Harris, Cedar Rapids

Clifton Heckman, Grimes

Nancy Schulze, Council Bluffs

Timothy Wilson, Mt. Vernon

 

Hospital Licensing Board

Monte Neitzel, Creston

 

Human Rights Board

Mark Alba, Council Bluffs

Redmond Jones, Davenport

Karen Mackey, Sioux City

Sheryl Soich, Des Moines

Robert Tyson, Waterloo

Jennifer Upah, Cedar Rapids

 

Statewide Independent Living Council

Kristen Aller, Cedar Rapids

Joel Lightcap, Dubuque

Michael Cook, Des Moines

Gary "Joe" Sample, Pleasantville

 

Iowa Innovation Council

Gordon Neumann, Des Moines

 

Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board

Jason Leonard, Waverly

Sandra Morris, Des Moines

Rick Roe, Clive

 

Juvenile Justice Advisory Council

Jacey Bair-Waddell, Cedar Rapids

Morgan Dodson, Le Mars

Margaret Johnson, Sidney

Jeremy Kaiser, Eldridge

Bill Ockerman, Polk City

John Quinn, Urbandale

Shauna Soderstrum, West Des Moines

Zachary Thomas, Nevada

Jeralyn Westercamp, Cedar Rapids

Karen Jones, Glenwood

Tony Reed, Marshalltown

Carl Smith, Ankeny

 

Latino Affairs Commission

Ramon Rodriguez, Pleasant Hill

 

Medical Assistance Advisory Council

Julie Frischmeyer, Carroll

John Grush, Boone

Cecilia Tomlonovic, Des Moines

Mark Wiskus, Pella

 

Board of Medicine

Frank Bognanno, Des Moines

Ann Gales, Bode

Michael Thompson, Pella

 

Mid-America Port Commission

Daniel Wiedemeier, Burlington

 

Organic Advisory Council

Thomas German, Holstein

 

Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Examining Board

Susan Pleva, Woodward

 

Preserves Advisory Board

Kirk Larsen, Decorah

Leesa McNeil, Sioux City

 

Iowa Public Broadcasting Board

Mary Kramer, Clive

 

Real Estate Commission

John Goede, Spencer

 

STEM Advisory Council

Cameron Evans, Euless

Steven Leath, Ames

Bradley Woody, Monroe

 

Student Loan Liquidity Corporation

Daniel Clute, Urbandale

Scott Schneidermann, Rock Rapids

Adam Voigts, Indianola

 

Terrace Hill Commission

Deborah Hubbell, Des Moines

Kay Runge, Davenport

Eric Wieland, West Des Moines

 

Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Commission

Shirley Daniels, Des Moines

Chad Jensen, Carroll

 

Commission on Uniform State Laws

Rosemary Sackett, Okoboji

Teresa Wagner, Iowa City

David Walker, Windsor Heights

 

Vocational Rehabilitation Council

Curtis Chong, Des Moines

Sherri Clark, Red Oak

Jill Crosser, Ames

Nancy Cruz-Tretina, Ames

John Mikelson, Columbus Junction

Christopher Townsend, Davenport

 

Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service

Jordan DeGree, Dubuque

Ashley Farmer-Hanson, Alta

Patti Fields, Iowa City

Khayree Fitten, Mt. Pleasant

Gary Fry, Mitchellville

Michelle Gowdy, Des Moines

Daniel Weiser, Urbandale

 

Watershed Improvement Review Board

Larry Alliger, Gowrie

David Coppess, Urbandale

Larry Gullett, Center Junction

Susan Heathcote, Des Moines

Jane Weber, Bettendorf

 

 

 

# # #

02 Jul 2012

International Kidnapping Inspires

By Ginny Grimsley
Parental Lessons
Estranged Spouses Must Put Children First, Father Says; Offers Tips

In his wedding pictures taken during the 1980s, Steve Fenton is on top of the world. He's a handsome American newlywed with a sly smirk on his face, about to drink a toast with his beauty queen wife in a traditional wedding in Xalapa, Mexico.

Eight years later, the rising tension begins in this real-life, Hollywood-styled drama, detailed in his new book, Broken Treaty (www.BrokenTreaty.info). He became estranged from his wife Silvia, but allowed her to take their son, Stephen, 6, on a two-week trip to her native Mexico in December 1992. More than four, frantic weeks later, he found out Silvia had enrolled their son in a school there, quit her job in California and had no plans of coming back.

"I know a lot of mothers down here who have done this same thing with no problems," she told him over the phone.

Fenton also spoke with his son during that call, and could tell the boy was close to tears.

"He wanted to come back home to his friends, his school and a model submarine project we were working on," he says. "Silvia hung up the phone shortly thereafter."

He pursued the Hague Convention Treaty, an international accord signed by Mexico the previous year, to return his son. A year later, although adamantly assured by both Mexico and the U.S. State Department that his son would be returned to his birth country, Fenton saw that his only hope would be to leave diplomats to their own devices. He began quietly engineering a complex plan to bring his son home to California.

Fenton grew his hair and a beard and donned sunglasses and a hat to disguise his appearance. He hired a pilot and others to help in the extraction of his son from southeastern Mexico. After spending tens of thousands of dollars and risking his life with no guarantee of success, he landed back on U.S. soil - with Stephen.

But while the action movie portion of the story ends here, another saga - single-parenthood - would begin. He offers tips that, despite his unique circumstances, apply to all divorced parents.

• It's not about you. Although Fenton's heroics to recover his son on foreign soil were life-changing, the mission's purpose was to provide young Stephen with a better life. That meant giving his son the opportunity to continue his relationship with the mother who abducted him.

• "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished." That's the second-to-last chapter title in Fenton's book. Initially, he took his son to visit his mother at the border, where they two were separated by a tall chain-link fence. He asked authorities to reduce charges against her when she came back to the states, so that his son could continue to have a meaningful relationship with her. His reward - Silvia was perpetually taking Fenton to court for child custody and child support, though she was court-ordered to repay him $51,000 for the rescue mission.

• Forgiveness is ultimately rewarded. Fenton's second marriage broke up because of the stress on his family from his first wife's actions. He was reprimanded by his lawyer for putting himself in a compromising situation. But  the doting father got the affirmation he was looking for during a lunch with his then-22-year-old son. Stephen spelled out his gratitude for his father's instincts and actions. "Fourteen years after brining my son home, he helped me understand that I could look ahead and realize that we'd both finally made it home," Fenton says.

About Steve Fenton

Steve Fenton is a specialty building contractor. After his estranged wife spirited their son, an American, away to Xalapa, Mexico, the father decided he had to take action. With little to no help from the U.S. and Mexican governments after a year and a half, the determined father went on a clandestine recovery mission across the border. What ensued were life-changing events that have defined the lives of father and son.  His book was written with some technical assistance from Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who would later become a national hero after safely landing U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River.

02 Jul 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Friday, June 29, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - June 29, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today acted on the following bills.

 

Bill No.: HB 1084

An Act Concerning: State government

Changes the Ethics Act in regards to appointees with expired terms, and requires that all Workers' Compensation arbitrators be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 1390

An Act Concerning: Local government

Prohibits the adoption of municipal ordinances or resolutions restricting the placement, screening or height of antennas or antenna support structures used for amateur radio communications unless specific conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 1882

An Act Concerning: State government

Creates the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to conduct surveys of businesses, and to develop a program between private businesses and universities to develop the skills of engineering students; also requires DCEO to post information on its website regarding the recapture of funds from recipients; and amends the Energy Assistance Act to revise eligibility guidelines.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4139

An Act Concerning: Finance

Allows for the State Surplus Property Revolving Fund to retain $1 million instead of $500,000.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2494

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Provides that the Secretary of State shall issue Gold Star license plates to all siblings of a person who has lost his or her life while serving in the Armed Forces (instead of to only one surviving sibling in the absence of a surviving parent).

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3385

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Allows additional time to submit applications to the Department of Professional Regulation, under a grandfather provision for licensure under the Electrologist Licensing Act (Act).

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

 

###

02 Jul 2012

Protecting ATF whistleblowers from retaliation

By Grassley Press

Friday, June 29, 2012

Grassley, Issa work to protect whistleblowers from retaliation at the ATF

Lawmakers ask Inspector General to take immediate action in response to job placement

WASHINGTON -Senator Chuck Grassley and Chairman Darrell Issa today asked the Inspector General for the Department of Justice to immediately investigate whether steps have been taken to prevent retaliation against whistleblowers in the Fast and Furious case by senior management of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in light of inflammatory comments by ATF personnel reported to the lawmakers' offices.

In a letter sent this afternoon to Michael E. Horowitz, Grassley and Issa detailed hostile and extremely negative comments that were made last year about two of the main whistleblowers who testified before Congress, according to a direct eyewitness account.  Grassley and Issa said they have just learned that the two whistleblowers have been placed under the supervision of the ATF official who reportedly made the comments, Scot Thomasson.

Grassley and Issa said the fact that these alleged comments have been in public documents since May, and since the Inspector General should be "a firm, independent voice within the Department to protect whistleblowers from retaliation," they're asking the Inspector General to investigate how the ATF official has been admonished, how the ATF official was elevated and given such supervisory duties, and what steps are being taken to protect the whistleblowers from the campaign of retaliation the ATF official expressed a desire to conduct in his comments.

Click here to read the letter of request from Grassley and Issa.

-30-
02 Jul 2012

Grassley challenges U.S. Attorney to act independently, meet responsibilities in contempt case

By Grassley Press

Grassley asks US Attorney Machen about independence in handling contempt citation

Senator says Deputy AG response is invalid without review of executive privilege claim

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley is asking U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen, Jr. to explain whether he has had the opportunity to demonstrate the independence required of his position in handling the contempt resolution adopted yesterday by the House of Representatives, given that there has been no determination that every single document sought by the House subpoena is protected by the President's claim of executive privilege.  Ignoring the contempt citation before even seeing it or reviewing the particular circumstances of this case would be a sharp contrast to the independence and integrity for which Machen has been praised by many in his assignment to investigate national security leaks that may have been politically motivated.

Grassley raised these issues and asked for responses to specific questions in a letter this afternoon to Machen.  Grassley's inquiry follows last night's letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the Deputy Attorney General stating that the Department of Justice would take no action in response to the House resolution.

"The Deputy Attorney General's letter has put the cart before the horse," Grassley wrote today.  Grassley also said that without a particularized description of the documents being withheld or a description of the documents over which executive privilege has been asserted, the U.S. Attorney cannot reasonably make an intelligent judgment as to the validity of any privilege claim and his duty to present the citation to a grand jury.

Last week, Grassley wrote to President Obama asking for a description of the scope of the executive privilege claim he made for documents in the congressional investigation of the Fast and Furious program.  He has not received a response.

Urging independence by the U.S. Attorney as the law and accountability in government demand, Grassley also wrote, "Your independence and integrity were cited as the reason that there was supposedly no necessity to appoint a special prosecutor.  This matter [the congressional contempt citation] gives you an opportunity to live up to that high praise and prove your independence."

Click here to read the letter from Grassley to Machen.


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