Cornyn upset by ATF promotions

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John Cornyn Tuesday bashed the decision to promote three federal law enforcement supervisors at the center of a controversial gun sting operation.

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday William G. McMahon, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' deputy director of operations in the West, and Phoenix field supervisors William D. Newell and David Voth, were moved up in the agency despite heavy criticism about the gun sales operation that resulted in agents losing track of at least 2,000 guns, many of them turning up in Mexico where authorities have been on the ropes fighting heavily armed drug cartels.

Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee ripped the Obama administration for handing out promotions to key players in the "Fast and Furious" operation.

"Until Attorney General (Eric) Holder and Justice Department officials come clean on all alleged gun-walking operations, including a detailed response to allegations of a Texas-based scheme, it is inconceivable to reward those who spearheaded this disastrous operation with cushy desks in Washington," he said.

The three ATF staff members' new positions are at ATF headquarters in Washington, the Times said, noting the agency didn't return phone calls about the promotions.

McMahon is now deputy assistant director of the ATF's Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations while Newell is special assistant to the assistant director of the agency's Office of Management and Voth is branch chief for the tobacco division.