Question of the Week: Fast and Furious

These questions are culled from phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails sent to Rep. Gallegly's Camarillo, Solvang, and Washington offices. Each week Rep. Gallegly adds another question and answer. Please add your comments.

October 28, 2011

Question: What is Operation Fast and Furious and what is Congress doing about it?

Answer: Congress is investigating the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) for a Phoenix, Arizona-based operation known as Fast and Furious. As part of a sting operation, the ATF allowed nearly 2,000 guns, valued at more than $1 million, to cross the Mexican border into the hands of known criminal organizations.

However, some of these firearms are suspected to have been trafficked to criminals. Consequently, one of the guns found near the U.S.-Mexico border was linked to the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry on December 14, 2010. Congress is also investigating whether the gun used to kill U.S. ICE Special Agent Jamie Zapata and wound Special Agent Victor Avila was initially trafficked through this operation.

The House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a senior member, has taken a lead role in investigating Operation Fast and Furious and making sure those responsible for it are held accountable. Most recently, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified before the Judiciary Committee on October 26. During this hearing, which I co-chaired, Members questioned Secretary Napolitano about Fast and Furious.

However, many questions still are unanswered. As a result, Congress is continuing its investigation. On December 8, Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to testify before the Judiciary Committee and will be questioned on the operation. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee also is investigating the matter and has issued a subpoena to the Department of Justice and ATF for documents related to Operation Fast and Furious.

The questions surrounding Operation Fast and Furious are very serious, and I will continue to follow the investigation very closely.

For more information on my positions on crime, please see my Key Issue: Crime & Justice page.

For previous Questions of the Week chronologically and by topic, please see my Questions of the Week page.