Washington, DC -Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, House Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Darrell Issa today strongly objecting to a unilateral subpoena he issued to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ operation related to gun trafficking into Mexico.
Issa served the unilateral subpoena last night despite serious concerns from DOJ about producing documents that would potentially compromise ongoing criminal investigations, and cooperation from the department to respond to the Chairman’s March 16 letter. Cummings raised similar concerns with Issa and objected to the subpoena, arguing that “compromising the potential prosecution and ultimate conviction of international criminals would be inexcusable," and that Committee Members were not given an opportunity to deliberate on such a significant action. However, Chairman Issa ignored the Ranking Member’s concerns and issued the subpoena unilaterally.
Cumming has asked Issa to join him in meeting with DOJ officials to fully understand the potential ramifications of the subpoena. According to DOJ, there are currently two active criminal investigations of the issue, one of which has resulted in a 53 count indictment of at least 20 individuals.
DOCUMENTS:
Read Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings Letter of "serious concerns" to Chairman Issa
Read the letter from Chairman Issa to Acting Director Kenneth Melson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Read the drug and gun trafficking indictment by the U.S. District Court
Read the letter from the Department of Justice to Chairman Issa indicating intent to cooperate with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, but expressing that some documents may compromise the DOJ ongoing investigation
Read the subpoena issued by Chairman Issa
