Fast and Furious memo leaked by Arizona’s former US Attorney
Dennis Burke, the former U.S. attorney for Arizona, admitted late Tuesday that he leaked a memo related to Operation Fast and Furious in a move being scrutinized by Congress and Justice Department internal investigators.
[…]
The memo has not been made public, but Grassley said it includes information critical of ATF Special Agent John Dodson, who blew the whistle on Operation Fast and Furious. A set of talking points also accompanied the leaked memo, Grassley said.
“This looks like a clear and intentional violation of the privacy act, as well as an attempt at whistleblower retaliation,” Grassley said during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
[…]
The exchange over the leak in Tuesday’s hearing was notably halting and awkward, as Grassley and Holder acknowledged their own previous discussion of the leak, and Holder tried to avoid discussing the subject.
“In a different time in Washington I’m not sure that information you just said would have been shared with everyone here, but so be it,” Holder said.
Grassley interjected: “You understand that I told you over the phone conversation, that if you want me not to ask this questions, to have your staff work with my staff, and give the details so that I would know that this would be an inappropriate question to ask at this hearing.”
Holder responded: “There were a couple of leaks, and those leaks are under investigation by the inspector general, by the Office of Professional Responsibility, and I’m not in a position to comment on ongoing investigation.”
The complete article is here.