ABC News Coverage of Fast and Furious

Operation Fast and Furious Under Scrutiny

ABC News has been closely following the developing story surrounding Operation Fast and Furious, a controversial gun-running operation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) between 2009 and 2011. The operation allowed thousands of weapons to be illegally trafficked into Mexico, with the intention of tracking them to major Mexican drug cartels. However, many of the weapons were lost or stolen, and some were later found at crime scenes in Mexico and the United States.

The operation has come under intense scrutiny from Congress and the public, with critics arguing that it was a reckless and irresponsible action that put the lives of innocent people at risk. The ATF has defended the operation, claiming that it was necessary to gather intelligence on Mexican drug cartels and to disrupt their operations.

Timeline of Events

• November 2009: The ATF launches Operation Fast and Furious in Phoenix, Arizona.
• 2010-2011: The ATF allows hundreds of weapons to be illegally trafficked into Mexico.
• December 2010: A Border Patrol agent is killed in a shootout with suspected drug traffickers in Arizona. Two of the weapons used in the shootout were later traced back to Operation Fast and Furious.
• February 2011: The ATF suspends Operation Fast and Furious.
• June 2012: The Justice Department announces that it will investigate the operation.
• October 2012: The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee releases a report criticizing the ATF's handling of Operation Fast and Furious.
• August 2013: The Justice Department releases a report concluding that the ATF had made "significant errors" in conducting Operation Fast and Furious.

Key Figures

• Eric Holder: Attorney General of the United States during Operation Fast and Furious.
• Darrell Issa: Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
• Jason Herring: Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Phoenix Field Division during Operation Fast and Furious.

Legal Proceedings

In 2012, the Justice Department launched an investigation into Operation Fast and Furious. The investigation was led by U.S. Attorney John Durham.

In 2015, Durham released a report concluding that the ATF had made "significant errors" in conducting the operation. However, the report did not find any evidence that Holder or other senior Justice Department officials had intentionally misled Congress about the operation.

In 2017, two former ATF agents were convicted of lying to Congress about their involvement in Operation Fast and Furious.

Political Fallout

Operation Fast and Furious has been a major political scandal. Republicans have accused the Obama administration of covering up the operation and of putting the lives of American citizens at risk. Democrats have defended the operation, arguing that it was necessary to gather intelligence on Mexican drug cartels.

The scandal has damaged the reputation of the ATF and has led to calls for stricter gun control laws.

Conclusion

Operation Fast and Furious was a controversial gun-running operation that has had a major impact on American politics. The operation has been the subject of intense scrutiny from Congress and the public, and has led to the resignation of several high-ranking ATF officials.