Statement on Government-Authorized Sales of Guns to Mexican Drug Cartels

Statement

Idaho First District Congressman Raúl R. Labrador today issued the following statement regarding the long-awaited (and long-avoided) testimony today from Obama Administration officials regarding Operation Fast and Furious, --also known as "Gunwalker"--in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee:

"A member of the U.S. Border Patrol's elite operations team known as BORTAC, for Border Patrol Tactical Unit was murdered with a gun the Obama Administration intentionally allowed to fall into the hands of Mexican criminals. Instead of getting straight answers from the Administration and Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich on the details of Operation Fast and Furious, what we got was more side-stepping and ambiguity.

"The American people and especially the family of murdered U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry deserve to hear the truth from this Administration about why they encouraged the sale of multiple guns to straw purchasers against the protestations of dealers and ATF agents.

"We need to hear the truth about why those dealers were told to go ahead with the sales by senior officials. I call on the Administration and the Department of Justice to expose the truth and tell the American people who in Washington authorized the continuation of this program."

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