KEY PLAYERS & PLACES IN FAST AND FURIOUS

KEY PLAYERS & PLACES

Click on the infographics to see the key players, places and connections:

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION			THE VICTIMS of Fast and Furious
	PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA Chief Executive of the United States; appointed Attorney General Holder. Denied his and Holder’s authorization and his knowledge of Fast and Furious during Univision interview on March 22, 2011. Admitted Fast and Furious was a mistake, vowed to hold those responsible to account.			Agent Brian Terry Marine veteran, US Border Patrol agent murdered while on patrol near Rio Rico, AZ on December 15, 2010. Two Fast and Furious guns, purchased by known straw buyer Jaime Avila, recovered at murder scene. Despite clear evidence, AG Holder has denied Fast and Furious link to Agent Terry’s murder.
	Attorney General (AG) Eric Holder America’s top law enforcement official. Claimed no knowledge of Fast and Furious before it became a scandal. Received at least 7 memos in 2010 discussing Fast and Furious by name; says he doesn’t read memos addressed to him – hasn’t said who reads them.			The American People Have a right to know truth about Fast and Furious, which put American lives in danger at home and in Mexico. “Will face effects [of Fast and Furious] for years to come as guns that were lost…continue to show up at crime scenes,” according to AG Holder. Mislead by repeated false Obama Administration statements on Fast and Furious.
	JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Responsible for Fast and Furious, shifting investigative focus from gun buyers to cartels in Fall 2009. Responsible for ATF, FBI, DEA, and US Attorneys; approved all ATF gun trafficking wiretaps. Failed to end Fast and Furious; stonewalling Congressional oversight by producing limited and sometimes false information			Accountable Government Eroded by Operation Fast and Furious. Goal of Congressional investigation.
	Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Enforces federal gun laws; regulates federally licensed gun dealers. In October 2009, Phoenix ATF office launched what would become its largest gun trafficking case: Operation Fast and Furious. Adopted reckless investigative techniques of gun-walking, failing to intercept weapons, failing to track guns.			The Mexican People At least 150 murdered by Fast and Furious weapons. Already low trust in the United States worsened by deadly results of Operation Fast and Furious.
	STRAW PURCHASERS American residents who illegally purchase weapons on behalf of Mexican drug cartels. Most straw purchasers get nothing more than probation. Twenty have been indicted as a result of Fast and Furious			Mexico Shares porous border with United States and suffers from growing drug cartel violence. US government helped fuel Mexican violence, allowing straw purchasers to buy approximately 2000 assault-type weapons, many of which walked into Mexico. Kept in the dark about Fast and Furious by the US government.
	ATF Group VII Agents Protested reckless gun walking techniques pushed by their bosses. Some became whistleblowers, alerting Senator Grassley and Chairman Issa to Fast and Furious. Several testified before congress, expressing outrage and remorse over Fast and Furious.			Marisela Morales Top Mexican law enforcement official since March 31, 2011. Kept in the dark about Fast and Furious by US government, furious when finally informed of the program. Efforts negatively impacted by Fast and Furious.
	STRAW PURCHASERS American residents who illegally purchase weapons on behalf of Mexican drug cartels. Most straw purchasers get nothing more than probation. Twenty have been indicted as a result of Fast and Furious
	FBI/DEA/ICE Participated in Fast and Furious but lacked operational control. Informants involved in Fast and Furious, causing disputes with ATF. Participated in Fast and Furious strike force with ATF Phoenix office.
	Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler Received detailed Fast and Furious briefing March 12, 2010 as acting Deputy Attorney General; currently Holder’s Chief of Staff. Unanswered questions about what he did or didn’t tell AG Holder about Operation Fast and Furious and why. Handwrote notes on documents demonstrating intimate knowledge of Fast and Furious.
	Justice Department Inspector General’s Office Encouraged Justice Department to pursue risky strategies in gun-smuggling investigations. Appointed on February 28, 2011 to investigate Fast and Furious serious questions about impartiality.
	Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Claimed no knowledge of Fast and Furious. Admitted DHS, on at least two occasions, assisted ATF in letting guns walk into Mexico. Testified that she has never discussed Fast and Furious with AG Holder, despite deaths of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
	Lanny Breuer Head of Justice Department’s Criminal Division, senior aide to AG Holder, defended former President Clinton during impeachment. Lauded Fast and Furious before scandal broke. His office approved several Phoenix ATF wiretaps for Operation Fast and Furious.
	United States Attorneys Along with ATF and DOJ, responsible for failing to arrest straw purchasers and end Fast and Furious. Encouraged and approved irresponsible Fast and Furious investigative techniques. Led multi-agency Fast and Furious Strike Force, including ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS, and ICE.
	White House Staff Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Joen Brennan led June 2010 high-level discussion in Phoenix on gun trafficking. O’Reilly shared information on Phoenix gun trafficking cases with National Security Staff. Former National Security Staffer Kevin O’Reilly frequently communicated about Fast and Furious with Phoenix ATF official Bill Newell.