AmmoLand Exclusive: Terry Brother Joins in Fast and Furious FOIA to State Dept.

By David Codrea

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Kent Terry wants to know what State knew about “walking” guns to Mexico and when they knew it. (Kent Terry/Facebook)

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Kent Terry, the brother of slain US Customs and Border Protection agent Brian Terry, joined in a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) request on the Department of State,” Stamboulieh Law announced in a media advisory. Terry, along with this correspondent, is seeking information on correspondence, documents and the like pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious and State Department interactions with the government of Mexico.

There are multiple reasons for filing the request, primarily because it explores an area that has been left largely unresolved by official inquiries from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. Word from ATF’s attaché in Mexico during the early stages of the investigation was that the Mexican government as well as his office had been kept in the dark. As early as January 6, 2011, information reported from whistleblower sources said:

The ATF office in Mexico was denied permission to share this information with their Mexican counterparts. Believing this was wrong, they went over the heads of the Phoenix office and requested permission directly from headquarters in DC. The higher-ups sided with the Phoenix decision to withhold the information from Mexican authorities.

The essentials of that were essentially corroborated in a March 25, 2011 CBS News report by Sharyl Attkisson.

The thing is, that’s not the way the law is supposed to work, and it would be a total abandonment of federal organized crime task force protocols to exclude the State Department, then under Hillary Clinton, from operations involving foreign countries.

And a question that’s never been officially asked, let alone answered: Did State turn a deliberate blind eye to Arms Export Control Act violations? The law doesn’t apply only to those doing the “gunwalking,” but also to those who “induce” or “willfully cause” offenses.

Another item that has resulted in dead ends to date: A request for communications involving Kevin O’Reilly.  He was the National Security Council North American Affairs Director, with a White House office, who got information from the Phoenix SAC about gun running operations along with the disclaimer “You didn’t get this from me.”

They moved him out of country to a State Department position in Iraq when House Oversight initially wanted to talk to him, he declined though his lawyer to speak with the Inspector General, and finally, the White House Counsel told Oversight and Judiciary they were not going to allow O’Reilly to speak with them.

The entire FOIA request can be read here. State has 20 business days to respond.

What’s expected from this? So far, all in government with something to keep suppressed have been able to stonewall pretty successfully with no repercussions. That’s not expected to change.

That said, the search for the truth needs to continue regardless. And you never know what kind of avalanche might start just by kicking a pebble loose. Besides which, some aren’t giving up. The Terry family wants and deserves answers, and they will continue to do what they can in memory of their lost son and brother, in their search for accountability and as much justice as they can obtain.

Also see: AmmoLand Exclusive: Donald Trump Promised Terry Brother Answers on Fast and Furious

David Codrea in his natural habitat.

About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.

In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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trumped

Another exclusive for Codrea! I also agree that there is more to this story, a lot more.

Tionico

there IS more to the story than we’ve seen thus far. Whether this administration will allow that to come out remains to be seen. If more “dirt” on this wretched scam does come to the light, at least we who care will know. We will be able to add these things to the “long train of abuses” perpetrated upon us by our “government”.