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Top Justice Official Says He Knew About Fast and Furious

Lanny Breuer, the head of the Justice Department's criminal division, has acknowledged that he knew about "Fast and Furious" and the ATF's tactic of letting guns "walk" into the hands of criminals in April 2010.

November 1, 2011

Lanny Breuer, the head of the Justice Department's criminal division, has acknowledged that he knew about "Fast and Furious" and the ATF's tactic of letting guns "walk" into the hands of criminals in April 2010.

A memo from Breuer's deputy described an earlier case called "Wide Receiver" started under the Bush Administration where "ATF let a bunch of guns walk" in an effort to catch the big fish of Mexican drug cartels, CBS News reports.

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Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he "regrets" that he didn't alert others in Justice Department leadership. In "Fast and Furious," Breuer says he likewise regrets not alerting leaders about the similarities in the cases. That, said Breuer, was a mistake.

Attorney General Eric Holder has said he didn't know about the operation until May of this year.

Related:

Holder Agrees to Testify About Fast and Furious

Holder Says He Didn't Know About Fast and Furious

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