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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is taking a stand in opposition to the Biden administration’s resolution to shut a key anti-arms trafficking operation.
Grassley is demanding solutions about why Challenge Thor, an efficient operation that busted Mexican cartel gunrunners, was all of the sudden defunded in 2022.
Inside paperwork, obtained by Grassley from whistleblowers, reveal Challenge Thor’s main function in combating U.S. to Mexico weapons trafficking.
Led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), this multi-agency initiative teamed up over 16 govt department businesses to halt the circulation of firearms to cartels, together with the infamous Jalisco New Technology Cartel (CJNG).
The operation, celebrated each publicly and privately, was inexplicably reduce off final yr.
Just lately, Grassley launched paperwork highlighting Challenge Thor’s complete technique. He’s additionally sending letters to every concerned company, digging into their previous roles within the venture and their present methods in opposition to trafficking.
Grassley wrote, “The general public reviews and data offered to my workplace point out Challenge Thor’s reported success was due partially to an entire of presidency data sharing technique[…],”
He expressed considerations in regards to the Biden administration’s present, reportedly ineffective, techniques in opposition to arms trafficking and raised questions in regards to the businesses’ dedication to dismantling cartel operations.
“The American folks need to know extra in regards to the Biden administration’s technique to carry all these concerned, from straw purchasers to cartel members and management, accountable and delivered to justice,” Grassley concluded.
Companies receiving Grassley’s letters and ATF data embrace the Departments of Homeland Safety, Justice, and State, in addition to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Safety, FBI, Homeland Safety Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
This transfer is a part of Grassley’s broader effort to strengthen U.S. actions in opposition to violent Mexican cartels. He’s beforehand demanded an in depth account from ATF on Challenge Thor and the rationale behind its defunding, however has but to obtain a passable response.
Mark Oliva, NSSF’s managing director of public affairs, identified the suspect timing of this. He wrote on Tuesday:
To be clear on this timeline, President Biden known as firearm producers “the enemy” whereas campaigning in 2019. President Biden took workplace in 2021. Mexico filed their $10 billion lawsuit in 2021. The ATF’s Challenge Thor, which was profitable in disrupting Mexican cartel gun smuggling, was defunded in 2021 for the next yr. Mexico’s lawsuit was dismissed and later revived in 2024 and now, Sen. Grassley remains to be being stonewalled by 16 federal legislation enforcement businesses as to why a profitable operation to cease weapons from being illegally trafficked was halted by the company that’s charged to stop that from taking place.
Moreover, Grassley is investigating reviews of misconduct inside the ATF, together with an agent allegedly concerned in firearms trafficking.
Grassley additionally led Congress’s probe into Operation Quick and Livid, a controversial Obama-era program that allowed weapons to be trafficked into Mexico.
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