Senator Grassley Takes Off His Gloves with ATF Acting Director Melson

[CSM Kersh]

Senator Grassley has taken his gloves off and is doing more than sparring with ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson.  Grassley has gained the cooperation of a ranking Phoenix office ATF SA.

Could Gillette ‘cooperation’ with Grassley probe bring down ATF hierarchy?

Here is something that is not speculation: Gillette’s cooperation is steeped in hypocrisy. It was Gillette’s name that surfaced early in Grassley’s investigation, in a Jan. 31 letter the senator wrote to Melson, posted here by my colleague, David Codrea. In that letter, Grassley wrote, “I understand that Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) George Gillette of the ATF’s Phoenix office questioned one of the individual agents who answered my staff’s questions about Project Gunrunner. ASAC Gillette allegedly accused the agent of misconduct related to his contacts with the Senate Judiciary Committee…

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/could-gillette-cooperation-with-grassley-probe-bring-down-atf-hierarchy

and here are links The Washington Times storiy:

Page 1 of story

and page 2

[RoadKingLarry]

Any bets on the possibility of Senator Grassley meeting with an unfortunate accident?

[seeker_two]

Any bets on the possibility of Senator Grassley meeting with an unfortunate accident?

Depends....what time is it now?.....

[charby]

Any bets on the possibility of Senator Grassley meeting with an unfortunate accident?

I don't think that would happen.

[roo_ster]

I don't think that would happen.

Is Grassley religious?

Could his home in any way resemble a "compound?"

[roo_ster]

Last time ATF was in water as hot as this, they looked around for an easy target to generate some good publicity.

[CSM Kersh]

Last time ATF was in water as hot as this, they looked around for an easy target to generate some good publicity.

Ah, yes, Ruby Ridge.  The Davidian incident later was a dog and pony show for the House to get more money.  And, like Ruby Ridge, quickly went South for them. 

[roo_ster]

Ah, yes, Ruby Ridge.  The Davidian incident later was a dog and pony show for the House to get more money.  And, like Ruby Ridge, quickly went South for them. 

Also, the 20/20 or 60 Minutes expose on male ATF agents raping female ATF agents without discipline.

[charby]

Is Grassley religious?

Could his home in any way resemble a "compound?"

I've been by his house many times, its a farm house, not many outbuildings, a wind break or fencing.

He is your typical Religious Iowan, goes to church on Sundays.

[Battle Monkey of Zardoz]

http://politics.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=23888&content=50593740&pageNum=-1

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to the bureau Friday complaining about the contents of an ATF email he obtained. The email, he said, contained guidance regarding his investigation telling employees they "are in no way obligated" to respond to Congress' questions and urging employees to refer congressional staffers to a particular office. 

Someone's ass needs to be burned. If they get taxpayer money, they are obligated. Period.

[Scout26]

Yep, my next letter would be:

Director Melton,

Be in my office at 8am tomorrow, prepared to answer my questions.

See you then,
Sen. Grassley.

'nuff said.

[seeker_two]

Yep, my next letter would be:

Director Melton,

Be in my office the Senate Hearing Room at 8am tomorrow, prepared to answer my questions. Bring Kevlar pants.

See you then,
Sen. Grassley.

'nuff said.

FIFY....

[stevelyn]

He should bring a bat and publically beat that waffen BATFEces puke.

[dogmush]

http://politics.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=23888&content=50593740&pageNum=-1



Someone's ass needs to be burned. If they get taxpayer money, they are obligated. Period.

[devils advocate]

I dunno.  I work for the DOD, and if we were being investigated I could definitely see telling my rank and file that they don't need to, and shouldn't, directly answer senators.  That kinda thing is above their pay grade.  It seems an e-mail that tells staff to politely direct the Senators to the appropriate office for answers isn't, in and of itself, an ass burning offense.

The Agency is obligated to answer to Congress, not necessarily each individual employee.

[/devils advocate]

[birdman]

[devils advocate]

I dunno.  I work for the DOD, and if we were being investigated I could definitely see telling my rank and file that they don't need to, and shouldn't, directly answer senators.  That kinda thing is above their pay grade.  It seems an e-mail that tells staff to politely direct the Senators to the appropriate office for answers isn't, in and of itself, an ass burning offense.

The Agency is obligated to answer to Congress, not necessarily each individual employee.

[/devils advocate]

I reread some of those emails, it suggests that you should refer them to legislative affairs, it does not say you have to...fine line, I know, and I don't know where these instructions lie on the curve

[kgbsquirrel]

[devils advocate]

I dunno.  I work for the DOD, and if we were being investigated I could definitely see telling my rank and file that they don't need to, and shouldn't, directly answer senators.  That kinda thing is above their pay grade.  It seems an e-mail that tells staff to politely direct the Senators to the appropriate office for answers isn't, in and of itself, an ass burning offense.

The Agency is obligated to answer to Congress, not necessarily each individual employee.

[/devils advocate]

There is a solution to that for the Senator. Simply hand out a subpoena ad testificandum to each and every agent believed to have been involved and/or has knowledge of the issue at hand. Speaking of subpoenas, when is that moron of an acting director supposed to appear before the Congressman?