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DOJ official resigns in wake of IG report on Fast & Furious

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    Report concludes insufficient oversight of botched gunrunning sting

  • Duration 7:40
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This transcript is automatically generated

There -- for -- now breaking in Washington.

And moments ago we got word that a top DOJ official.

Just resigned as a result of the report.

Jason Weinstein the deputy assistant attorney general for the criminal division is resigning.

We are told that the report concludes that he is the most senior Justice Department official who is in a position to stop this operation.

Which is a botched gun running staying.

Run by the ATF out of Phoenix but with the Department of Justice cooperation they had to get wiretaps and other things through the DOJ.

And several people want -- -- Mexico not to mention an American Border Patrol agent.

On United States soil.

They were originally hoping that -- attract these weapons to Mexican drug -- cartel leaders instead thousands of the guns vanished.

Two of them were found in 2010.

Where the American Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was shot to death and so now.

What's happened is the inspector general of the DOJ who's been investigating this for several months over a year I believe has come out with a report.

And a top.

Justice Department official has resigned.

We La jeunesse live from -- Los Angeles -- he's been at the -- -- front of the reporting on this from the beginning William what do we know.

-- remember -- the attorney general said he would only fire discipline or just when people until after the IG report was released.

And that of course just happened moments ago here as we know -- -- we don't Jason Weis -- he said he is out.

Now let's look at it's what -- full screen of what we believe the report has generally also saying.

It does place primary blame on the Phoenix ATF.

For not putting out public safety first in the US attorney's office in Arizona for a bad legal strategy however.

In the spin is out there on this but it generally appears to exonerate.

Attorney general Eric Holder.

That he was not informed a fast -- -- that he knew about the tactics involved that the criminal division chief Laney brewer that he did not know of gun walking prior to the public finding.

Of -- and the public finding that out and find that the chief of staff.

Who's now Gary granular his chief of staff as well as then he is the acting.

A deputy attorney general -- that despite receiving detailed briefing on fast you curious.

Including that number of guns that were going down to Mexico.

That does the term gun walking was never used and therefore.

He could not be blamed if you will for knowing about this stuff before -- Now sold me.

We've already seen -- -- might say being disciplined.

We are led to believe that in the next 48 hours there may be actions taken against those ATF officials in Phoenix who were had primary responsibility.

About this.

The number two.

We believe there's several points I think they're going to be very important here number one.

The IG kind of speaks in -- and their language is not always explicit.

And you need to read this thing very carefully word for word you're not gonna see a page that says these guys screwed up.

And now here's how they should be penalized if you will.

Also pay attention to two other points.

And that of course is who signed off on this thing because you know many conservatives believe the administration -- to use this as -- -- just by stricter gun control laws.

Democrats say that is not true.

Secondly exactly how explicit was Phoenix when it -- Washington higher ups what they were doing.

-- Phoenix ATF says -- We told our bosses everything we gave them weekly reports they knew how many guns are going down to Mexico and they knew what sort of a crime scenes so you know if were to blame.

So are the guys in front of us that even buyers need to have a cash didn't have jobs and yet there are coming in -- bundles of money.

To spend all this money assault weapons.

I believe the -- report also says Megan.

That it was wrong of the ATF.

To use the gun dealers like they did to encourage them to sell these guns that that was while not necessarily illegal definitely unethical.

But there's 500 pages almost -- -- a lot more coming out tomorrow.

-- I want to let the viewers now that this has just been released now 2 PM eastern so we are just getting going through it is as William went up 500 pages so as he goes through.

Other news organizations are going through it is well and we are just getting on the wires now -- states' stance stay with me.

A couple of headlines.

And forgive me if you and touched on these because folks were in my ear but.

With respect -- Eric Holder no evidence that Eric Holder knew of the flaws it appears that the report would.

At least to this extent exonerate Eric Holder.

And then talks about Laney brewer who you have on your full screen here this guy runs the criminal division.

Of the department of justice and has been very closely tied to Eric Holder and has -- to some extent.

Tied to the fast and furious investigation.

Apparently we are hearing that -- William that he has been referred for possible.

Discipline -- the disciplinary action.

Can you comment on either of those to develop.

That's.

-- I could tell you that.

Before this report came out Megan the spin and -- started we were getting.

-- if you will.

That supported.

Someone's contention.

That you -- were innocent here so a lot of things you're seeing.

Already in the press are a result of someone giving them information because you can't turn around that fast -- -- 500 -- can you speak to link Taylor.

Lol I can tell you that what we've been led to believe Atlantic Lanny brewer according the report of the -- we've seen of the report is that Lanny brewer did not know about gun walking.

Prior to the public.

Being told about it.

I will tell you I just got this release from it's chairman Darrell ice he says the IG report confirms findings by congress.

That there's your total disregard of public safety.

And -- contrary to denials of the attorney general and his defenders in congress that the investigation found that information in the wiretap applications.

Approved by senior Justice Department officials didn't contain red flags showing reckless tactics and faults by the attorney general and his inner circle.

So there's a lot of information.

-- this is just coming in as well thank you William I just wanna say again a case and this again.

We're going to the report and look literally looking at my Blackberry at at this moment.

That is significant if if the head of the criminal division of the Department of Justice is being referred for possible disciplinary action.

That's significant because at the Department of Justice is sought to downplay -- brewers as the connection to fast and furious that's his name.

And yet his name comes up repeatedly in connection with this story.

I haven't read the report I'm just going by what I'm getting in my -- year according to other reports.

Again.

The other headline that Eric Holder.

Has been said to not to to no evidence that he knew of the flaws that came.

In association with this with this program.

Again Laney brewer assistant attorney general in charge of the criminal division.

And apparently.

They -- the report according your sister -- network.

Publication Wall Street Journal.

That he acknowledged she should've done more to ensure that the -- Cory used again.

This is significantly -- -- at the center of this and he's the highest ranking DOJ official.

Tied to it although now we're told it's a different guy Weinstein whose been who is resigning we're gonna try to get to the bottom of this we apologize to bring you the news.

Sort of half hearted but we have -- the whole reports -- wanna get you.

What we have and we'll get back to that story momentarily once we have this stuff confirmed.

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