Alan Gottlieb doesn’t mince words. He says that Eric Holder should have resigned instead of engaging in a “shell game” of reassignment.<\/p>\n
HOLDER PLAYS \u2018SHELL GAME\u2019 AT JUSTICE, SHOULD RESIGN INSTEAD, SAYS CCRKBA<\/b><\/p>\n
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011<\/p>\n
BELLEVUE, WA \u2013 Today\u2019s replacement of Kenneth Melson as acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a political charade by the man who really ought to tender his resignation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today. That man is Attorney General Eric Holder.<\/p>\n
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb called for Holder\u2019s resignation after this morning\u2019s announcements that Melson was being \u201creassigned\u201d and replaced. This action appears to be an attempt by Holder to convince people he is taking action in response to the Fast and Furious scandal, now being investigated by Congress.<\/p>\n
\u201cHolder is just moving deck chairs on the Titanic,\u201d Gottlieb stated. \u201cToday\u2019s announcements will do nothing to restore America\u2019s confidence in the BATF or the Justice Department so long as Eric Holder remains the Attorney General.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ultimate responsibility for Fast and Furious lies with Holder,\u201d he continued. \u201cMelson is just the latest player to be shifted around, rather than lose his job. Everyone directly involved in the Fast and Furious scandal has simply been moved to another position. There has been no discipline and no accountability, because the man who should be ultimately accountable is still running the Justice Department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gottlieb called today\u2019s announcement \u201cself-serving\u201d for Holder, who is \u201clooking out for his own interests.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the only thing that is really transparent about this entire administration,\u201d Gottlieb observed. \u201cThey are looking out for themselves, and playing administrative games when they should step up to the plate and accept responsibility for this scandal. Several people have been moved from the ATF office in Phoenix to other jobs, especially in Washington, D.C. because of Fast and Furious.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there had not been significant wrong-doing,\u201d he said, \u201cnone of these moves would have been made. This is an admission of guilt by the Obama administration without saying so. And where is the president in all of this? Maybe he\u2019s hiding out on the ninth hole of a golf course.\u201d<\/i> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n