Ten Arizona sheriffs demand probe of `Fast and Furious'
by Jim Cross/KTAR (October 7th, 2011 @ 2:20pm)
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is joined by nine other sheriffs in
calling for investigation of "Operation Fast and Furious."
(KTAR Photo by Jim Cross)
http://www.ktar.com/category/local-news-articles/20111007/Ten-
Arizona-sheriffs-demand-probe-of-`Fast-and-Furious'/
PHOENIX -- Led by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, 10 Arizona
sheriffs are calling for an investigation into what U.S. Attorney
General Eric Holder knew about "Operation Fast and Furious," a gun-
running operation that put weapons into the hands of violent drug
cartels in Mexico.
"Fast and Furious" was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms which critics say lost track of the weapons, including
three that allegedly were found at the scene of the murder of U.S.
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Babeu, an outspoken critic of the federal government's enforcement of
immigration law, was joined outside the Arizona Capitol building
Friday by the other sheriffs, representing nine of Arizona's 15
counties. Babeu called "Fast and Furious" a betrayal of state law
enforcement. He said the issue is not partisan, but a public safety
issue and that guns allowed into Mexico have been linked to dozens of
crime scenes on both sides of the border.
"I want the truth, I want the truth from the attorney general, I want
the truth from all of those people who are involved," Babeu said.
If Holder is found to have lied about his knowledge of "Fast and
Furious," he should resign, Babeu said.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever, whose county borders Mexico, said
U.S. authorities are in a fight for our country, our Constitution and
our very lives.
"While our own government is blaming America for exporting arms and
cash south of the border, they're complicit," Dever said.
Babeu said "Fast and Furious" is no small scandal.
"I believe that this is a much larger scandal than anything that took
place in Watergate because off of this information has had to be
dragged out through Congress," he said.
Babeu said 1,500 weapons remain unaccounted for and there's no doubt
more bloodshed will occur.
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