Is there a cover-up on Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry’s murder?
by Hugh Holub on Feb. 04, 2011, under border issues, drug smuggling, politics
Recent news stories about guns in Arizona suggest that Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry may have been shot by a gun that was purchased at a Glendale gun shop, and smuggled into Mexico while the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (generally known as the ATF) watched.
US Senator Charles Grassley sent two letters to Kenneth Melson, Acting Director of the ATF on January 27 and January 31st.
In Grassley’s January 27th letter he says “Members of the Judiciary Committee have received numerous allegations that the ATF sanctioned the sale of hundreds of assault weapons to suspected straw purchasers, who then alleged transported these weapons throughout the southwestern border area and then into Mexico.”
Senator Grassley went on to state “ According to the allegations, one of these individuals purchased three assault rifles with cash in Glendale, Arizona on January 16, 2010. Two of the weapons were then alleged used in a firefight on December 14, 2010 against Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agents killing CPB agent Brian Terry. These extremely serious allegations were accompanied by detailed documentation which appears to lend credibility to the claims and partially corroborates them.”
Grassley is questioning ATF’s “Project Gunrunner” which attempts to track the flow of guns from the US into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels. Other reports confirm the flow of guns from Arizona to Mexico.
On January 31 Grassley sent a second letter to Melson questioning efforts of ATF to silence one of ATF’s agents in its Phoenix office who may have been leaking information about the guns used in the firefight that killed Terry.
Grassley said “I understand Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) George Gillette of the ATF’s Phoenix office questioned one of the individual agents who answered my staff’s questions about Project Gunrunner. ASAC Gillette alleged accused the agent of misconduct related to his contacts with the Senate Judiciary Committee”.
Grassley then went on to state “Whistle blowers are some of the most patriotic people I know — who labor, often anonymously to let Congress and the American people know when the government isn’t working so we can fix it.”
Grassley added the following threat “ As you may be aware obstructing a Congressional investigation is a crime.”
While federal officials have no released any information about what kind of weapon was used to kill agent Terry, there is a sick feeling that Terry may have been killed with one of the Glendale guns.
Sources I have indicate that the feds knew about the Glendale weapons within 48 hours of Terry’s shooting.
Maybe this is why the FBI has been so reluctant to reveal any information about Terry’s death and why the 6 men arrested in the area have not been charged with anything relating to the murder.
IF ATF and other federal agencies are covering up the truth about agent Terry’s death, President Obama needs to clean house and remove everyone involved in the cover-up.
February 4th, 2011 on 10:44 am
It’s impossible for someone outside of law enforcement to know exactly what’s going on and why. It seems very unusual and strange that there has been so little information regarding Agent Terry’s killing. I feel very sorry for those who loved him because, unless they’re being told details, it must make losing him more difficult. It’s hard on all of us, wondering why.
February 4th, 2011 on 11:13 am
I hear you ! One of the fundamental aspects of command respsonsibility is to make sure when you send your folks into harm’s way, that you do everything you can to make sure your folks will get home safe and alive.
February 4th, 2011 on 12:03 pm
Changing the ROE by making them initiate contact with a lethal force threat with less-lethal force as the primary was not a good idea.
February 4th, 2011 on 1:31 pm
This is a part of the ROE I don’t understand. Local law enforcement can use lethal force when threatened….reach for a weapon or start to point it at someone, and the situation is ended. I speak from having been legal advisor to local law enforcement. What are the ROE for the Border Patrol? Wait until someone shoots at them first?
February 4th, 2011 on 1:53 pm
“What are the ROE for the Border Patrol? Wait until someone shoots at them first?”
No….
But “decision makers” did not want a “shoot out” between so called border bandits and Border patrol. Such an incident would be used by some to show the need for a ”stronger border”, and that does not fit everyones agenda.
So these “decision makers” decided that a priority would be placed on using LL means to apprehend these specific subjects.
Tragically, the good guys initial, and mandated use of LL tactics failed to stop the badguys from killing an agent….
February 5th, 2011 on 3:59 pm
Did this clear things up for you Hugh?
February 6th, 2011 on 6:09 am
But “decision makers” did not want a “shoot out” between so called border bandits and Border patrol. Such an incident would be used by some to show the need for a ”stronger border”, and that does not fit everyones agenda.
Clearly this goes all the way to the Trilateral Commission and Opus Dei.
The thing about conspiracy theories is that anyone over the age of 13 can create one that seems at least remotely possible, if highly improbable. Anyone over the age of 13 can also come up with many reasons why the conspiracy is so broad that it can never be proven and exposed. They are circular, self-serving and bear no relationship to an investigation of the evidence.
February 8th, 2011 on 10:06 am
No theory involved….
8^)
February 4th, 2011 on 12:11 pm
“It’s impossible for someone outside of law enforcement to know exactly what’s going on and why”
If a press conference with a proper Q&A period would suit an agenda there would be one, if not there will be short cryptic statements, and when questions are asked “ongoing investigation” will be cited as the reason for the silence…
February 4th, 2011 on 12:23 pm
IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE MANY CORRUPT AGENTS.DOING THE JOB RIGHT IS HARDER THAN NOT DOING THE JOB.THERE IS MORE MONEY IN SELLING GUNS THAN BORDER PATROL PAY.TOO BAD WHEN YOU DONT KNOW WHO TO TRUST.
February 4th, 2011 on 12:38 pm
Are you saying Border Patrol Agents are “selling guns” illegally to supplement their income? to whom?
What are you basing this on?
February 4th, 2011 on 1:28 pm
There is not one shred of evidence that any Border Patrol agents have anything to do with selling guns.
February 4th, 2011 on 1:00 pm
…and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law!
February 4th, 2011 on 1:56 pm
a blind man could see theres a coverup going on since the day it happened
the man was armed with non lethal weapons and a sidearm according to an officer identically armed
those guys need full auto m-16s and plenty of ammo this is a war and sending the equivalent of a street cop to fight an army is frekin stupid !!!!!!!!!!!!
February 5th, 2011 on 10:30 am
Rifles are available for agents
February 5th, 2011 on 6:36 am
The main gist of this seems to have been missed here. The BATF has been allowing these weapons into Mexico so that they can be ultimately traced BACK TO THE USA as crime guns. This is to justify their budget for operation gunrunner. Not only do these weapons have to be used in a crime before they are traced back here, THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT WAS INTENTIONALLY NOT TOLD ABOUUT THIS.
Apparently this fraud was okay with the federal government as long as only MEXICANS were killed with these weapons. Now that an american has been killed the feds seem to think that a cover up is the way to go. Everyone involved in this needs to be charged with numerous crimes, as well as accesory to murder.
February 5th, 2011 on 8:09 am
Your understanding is right on.
February 5th, 2011 on 10:29 am
manufactured crisis….
February 5th, 2011 on 8:40 am
“…federal law enforcement sources have confirmed that two guns, part of a series of purchases that were being monitored by authorities, were found at the scene of the firefight that killed a U.S. Border Patrol agent in southern Arizona.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atf-guns-20110203,0,6169639.story
“My worst fear was that they would be used in a homicide of a Mexican military official or a Mexican police official. It crossed my mind that they would be used against U.S. forces, but I didn’t think it would happen this soon,” said another federal law enforcement source.”
February 5th, 2011 on 8:55 am
One thing for sure, if these poverty stricken illegals crossing at night were the culprits they would have been charged with murder by now, the mere fact the FBI, Border Partol is being hush, hush on this case, media blackout on it is a sign something smells rotten in Denmark as the old saying goes! Now ad to this two guns being tracked by ATF agents used in the murder, hints at a “conspiracy of some sorts”, its been rumored friendly fire, we all know law enforcement uses “what they often call throw downs” for when they accidently or intentionally kill a victim, perpetrator, not a new thing in our world! Often they are guns bought outside the departments they work for and carried for such incidents where they can claim deniability or accuse the deceased of being armed thereby justifying their shooting to the inevitable “interal investigations of law enforcement shootings”! Something is being kept out of the public eye for sure!
February 5th, 2011 on 10:21 am
RH,
This is a new track for you, “anti-law enforcement’……this is counter to your ususal posts out of the SPLC playbook.
February 5th, 2011 on 9:22 am
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/02/05/texas.police.beating/index.html?iref=obnetwork
This video of police beating unmercifully a 15 year old burglary suspect on the ground helpless removes any doubt on “sainthood being absolute with one wearing a uniform”, much like carrying a bible or going to church does not absolve one of being a sinner, nor does it make one a saint! To much hype has been done in hollywood movies showing law enforcement officers as some type of saintly heros with no reality to the real world, they do commit crimes, sin, beat their wives, kids, steal, take bribes, do all manner of things every other human being does, so for those who worship at the alter of the “uniform” sorry I don’t adhere to the religous belief of saints in uniform or in any of mankinds establisments, the good book I read says we all have the curse of Adam & Eve’s disobedience to god on us, not one is saintly all have fallen short of the glory of god, but only by the saving grace of “asking jesus for his forgiveness will any of us enter the kingdom of god”!
February 5th, 2011 on 10:24 am
RH,
With this post you’ve convinced me, it is all an elaborate coverup of a friendly fire incident….. NOT
February 5th, 2011 on 11:20 am
Is this actually a friendly fire incident? Two versions…Agent Terry shot by gun allowed to get into bandits hands by ATF, or Agent Terry killed in a friendly fire incident…which one is the truth?
February 5th, 2011 on 4:01 pm
The only “rumors” of a friendly fire incident are coming from those with an open borders/Anti BP/LE agenda.
February 5th, 2011 on 5:48 pm
MORE THAN LIKELY HE WAS KILLED BY A GANGBANGER FROM GLENDALE NOT A ILLEGAL,JUST A RIPOFF GANG THEN WTF DO I KNOW
February 5th, 2011 on 8:59 pm
Or maybe a gangbanger from Glendale that is an illegal, but the fact is, the one in custody that is definately connected to the case is…wait for it…..yep, illegal….
March 4th, 2011 on 6:37 pm
It seems that they are still trying to figure out what the story will be about Brian Terry’s death.
We have reports of there being one, two, and/or three of the BATFE’s smuggled guns left at the scene of Terry’s shooting death.
I get the feeling they won’t prosecute because they don’t want this to become a big-deal humiliation for the U.S.