WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives blocked a whistle-blower from publishing a book about a failed gun-trafficking operation.
The American Civil Liberties Union came to federal agent John Dodson's defense Monday, filing a protest with the ATF in which it objected to the agency's efforts to block Dodson from publishing his already written book, saying the decision violates his "constitutional protections," The Washington Post reported.
In its rejection letter, the ATF said publishing the book "would have a negative impact on morale in the Phoenix [field division] and would have a [detrimental] effect on our relationships with [the Drug Enforcement Administration] and FBI."
"It was Agent Dodson's disclosures that helped bring the operational failures at the Phoenix field division to light," the ACLU wrote in a letter to ATF Deputy Director Thomas E. Brandon. "As a knowledgeable and informed 'insider' who was directly involved in Operation Fast and Furious, Agent Dodson will add significantly to the national conversation about gun policy."
A law enforcement official told the Post a government-wide ban prevents federal employees from receiving compensation "from any source other than the government for teaching, speaking or writing that relates to the employee's official duties."
The official said the ATF was conducting a review to determine whether Dodson would be revealing any "law enforcement sensitive" information. If such information isn't revealed, the official said, Dodson could publish his book without receiving compensation.
During Operation Fast and Furious gun-trafficking operation run by Phoenix special agents between late 2009 and early 2011, the ATF lost track of more than 2,000 guns investigators were monitoring as they were sold to traffickers suspected of arming Mexican drug cartels. The operation to link guns to a cartel fell apart after two of the tracked guns were found at the scene of a shootout in which U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed.
The revelations and congressional investigation embarrassed the ATF and led to the resignation of Arizona U.S. attorney Dennis Burke and the reassignment of ATF acting director Kenneth E. Melson. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. was held in contempt of Congress after the Justice Department wouldn't turn over to Congress certain documents about internal deliberations after the operation ended.
