As I predicted yesterday (http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/when-does-cop-become-criminal.html), a congressional committee announced today that it will open an immediate investigation into a Drug Enforcement Administration program which has been secretly washing hundreds of millions of dollars of Mexican drug cartel profits for several years. The covert operation was revealed over the weekend by The New York Times http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/us-agents-help-mexican-drug-cartels.html.
In a letter to U.S. attorney general Eric Holder, Rep. Darrell Issa (R. Calif.) announced that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which he chairs, would open an inquiry into the money laundering scheme. "The existence of this program calls into question the leadership of those at the top of the Justice Dept.," said Issa.
The same House committee is already investigating the ATF Wide Receiver program and the DEA Fast and Furious operation, both of which allowed the controlled sale of military assault weapons to Mexican drug cartel operatives. The weapons were embedded with tracking devices, and in the words of the ATF, the guns "went walking in Mexico." The government long ago lost track of most of the firearms, but it is known that some were used in violent crimes, including murder.
Representative Issa is a fierce critic of Holder, and has accused him of lying to Congress about the secret arms sales. Earlier this year he urged Holder's resignation or dismissal (http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/california-congressman-blasts-ag-eric.html). Two legislative committees are investigating the sales. Holder is scheduled to appear before House Judiciary investigators on Dec. 8 to answer more questions.
On this side of the border, Mexican senate leaders announced today that they will ask for clarification from the U.S. government on details of the DEA money laundering operation.
No comments:
Post a Comment