by It was under questioning by Minority Counsel Fred Thompson at the Watergate hearings that presidential aide Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of tape recording devices in both the Oval Office and the President’s office in the Executive Office Building. These tapes provided the nail in the coffin to Nixon’s presidency.
Now more tapes are leaking out of the conversations between ATF agents and the owner of Lone Wolf Trading Company Andre Howard. These tapes seem to indicate a strong effort to conceal the details of Operation Fast and Furious as well as a strong disdain for Senator Grassley. The one item that was mentioned that I find particularly interesting was the assertion by ATF Agent Hope McAllister that she had a file that would cover her if the operation went sour. I wonder if she is still in possession of that file and, if so, have copies been provided to Congressional investigators.
The more I see and read of Project Gunwalker the more it reminds me of Watergate. Of course, no one died in Watergate nor was the press complicit for the most part in hushing up the scandal.
The excerpts of the tape and transcript are from CBS News.
EXCERPT 1
Dealer: Question: do your people have any confidence that you can forestall subpoena? Or is it still up in the air?
Agent: No, my understanding is person, the only people that can request a congressional hearing has to be a majority party. Grassley is a Republican.
Dealer: I know.
Agent: And as of right now…
Dealer: In the Senate right.
Agent: Yeh. And as of right now we don’t have any interest from anybody in the majority party to the extent that he’s shown interest. So even if you wanted to at this point unless he gets CUTS OUT somebody from the majority party to jump on board, he can’t…
Dealer: Not on his own no but you know Leahy and rest of ’em these people are snakes, they’ll do anything they can…
Agent: My understanding also is that the Attorney General’s office is supposed to come out little bit stronger…um…
Dealer: I understand that.
Agent: position…which may or may not, um, you know, help.
Dealer: I’ll tell you what I’ll give him that, he’s got f—ing b—s making that statement. I don’t wanna even go there.
EXCERPT 2
Dealer: Until something else happens they’re not stupid, Hope, they connect the dots.
Agent: No and you know and all that’s fine if Senator Grassley wants to come in and tell us show us how to work these cases more efficiently more effectively by all means.
Dealer: Don’t think Grassley, think Leahy.
Agent: Well, him too. I… I welcome him to come down and work…
Dealer: He’s an arrogant b—–d
Agent: So is Grassley though
Dealer: Chuck probably and I don’t know a thing about him other than from somebody else I’ve heard seems to be just somebody who’s hitching his wagon to any star to.. for his own aggrandizement.
Agent: Yeh
Dealer: You know that. He’s an arrogant
Agent: Yeh
Dealer: individual. Look he’s a United States senator there it is right there.
EXCERPT 3
Agent: That’s kind of what my suggestion but nobody thought that was funny like if I were a P.I. I’d put him on Grassley, I’m sure there’s a lot would go away. Actually my one suggestion was just tell him in a registered Republican. I’m sure if he knew that everything would be fine, they didn’t like that either.
Dealer: Well.
Agent: Alright.
Dealer: You gotta be, watch your back. I don’t trust these people around you one bit. You’ve been very lucky so far.
Agent: Again I’ll be more than happy to talk to somebody, they won’t let me, but more than happy to talk to anybody about the decisions we made.
Dealer: Hope, stay off the screen. You don’ t need this sh–. Neither does your husband.
Agent: Believe me I have…
Dealer: You gotta have a f—–g life man.
Agent: I have a file and…
Dealer: shhh
Agent: It’s all, it’s all public stuff I dont’ care.
Dealer: Well don’t even convey it in that. I’m sure you do. Hopefully this thing will subside…
Agent: You keep saying that but ?
Dealer: I know.
Dealer: You and I both know how bad it’s gonna get I won’t bull—t you you don’t bull—t me
Agent: Ha ha.
Dealer: my a– is up here and yours is here here but you’re covered I’m out in the open
Agent: Ha ha.
Dealer: God.
