EXCLUSIVE: Issa demands "gunwalking" information from Secretary Clinton
Today, the head of the House Oversight Committee fired off a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her agency's refusal to turn over documents and information about the ATF "gunwalking" scandal exposed by CBS News.
"Given the gravity of this matter, this refusal is simply unacceptable," reads the letter from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
Read Issa's full letter to Clinton (PDF).
Issa is acting in concert with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). On March 4, Grassley requested information from the State Department involving then-U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual's meetings with Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, Mr. Breuer's deputy, and other officials in Mexico City in the summer of 2010 regarding "on-going investigations" related to Project Gunrunner and its Fast and Furious component. However, the State Department has not provided any of the requested materials.
"This refusal is mystifying in its own right" and "stands in stark contradiction to the promise of transparency promoted by President Obama," reads the Issa letter. He is now asking for the information as well. "Additionally, please explain in detail the reasons behind your refusal to answer the Senator directly."
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Issa's committee may subpoena documents if they are not provided. So far, the Justice Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and several other agencies have been non-responsive to Grassley requests in the gunwalking investigation.
The State Department had no comment other than to say if the letter has been received, then it is being reviewed.
