Monday, October 10, 2011

Where was Sheriff Dupnik?

The Examiner
William Heuisler


Last Friday, ten Arizona sheriffs, five Democrats and five Republicans representing most of Arizona's 15 counties, met in Phoenix to call Fast and Furious, the ATF/DOJ gun-walking operation, “a betrayal of state law enforcement.” The Sheriffs called Attorney General Holder to account
Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County was not there.

Since Fast and Furious crossed and re-crossed Pima County, and because Sheriff Dupnik has not been shy with opinions in the past, many in Tucson were surprised at his notable absence from the spotlight.

Perhaps the Sheriff believes Attorney General Holder.

Eric Holder has promised a full investigation of the deadly gun smuggling by his Justice Department Inspector General. Maybe Sheriff Dupnik thinks a Justice Department IG investigation will be sufficient...and impartial.  

Remember, the sheriffs were demanding President Obama appoint a special counsel to investigate Eric Holder and his possible authorization of Project Gunrunner and its Arizona offspring, Operation Fast and Furious.

Pinal County Sheriff, Babeu said, “We want to get to the bottom of this. One, to find out what truly happened, and two, to ensure this never happens again. This is not political. This is a public safety issue, this is a threat against our deputies and local officers, not only in Arizona but across the Southwest.”

Referring to the murder of Tucson District Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry with a Fast and Furious smuggled weapon, Sheriff Babeu has also said, “If somebody gives a gun to somebody knowing they’re going to commit murder, guess what we call them? … We call them accomplices.”

Attorney General, Eric Holder, answers questions about Gunrunner and Fast and Furious by telling Congress about ongoing internal Justice Department investigations. Holder does not mention the person investigating DOJ is its Acting Inspector General, Cynthia A. Schnedar, who has long, close ties to Eric Holder. In 1994, Schnedar served as assistant U.S. attorney in D.C. when Holder was U.S. attorney.

Holder was Schnedar’s boss from 1994 until 1997. Schnedar and Holder worked together on at least 14 cases and co-filed legal briefs in four of those cases. (Owens, 2011)

But Sheriff Dupnik apparently wants no part of rash public accusations.

Maybe he decided that accusing someone of causing a murder - or being an accessory to murder - without sufficient evidence, was not proper.

And the Sheriff probably just wanted to avoid controversy.

Owens, B. (2011). PajamasMedia. Gunwalker: Punch drunk Eric Holder swings back at critics, hits self. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/gunwalker-punch-drunk-eric-holder-swings-back-at-critics-hits-self/






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