Of Arms and the Law

Navigation
About Me
Contact Me
Archives
XML Feed
Home


Law Review Articles
Firearm Owner's Protection Act
Armed Citizens, Citizen Armies
2nd Amendment & Historiography
The Lecture Notes of St. George Tucker
Original Popular Understanding of the 14th Amendment
Originalism and its Tools


2nd Amendment Discussions

1982 Senate Judiciary Comm. Report
2004 Dept of Justice Report
US v. Emerson (5th Cir. 2001)

Click here to join the NRA (or renew your membership) online! Special discount: annual membership $25 (reg. $35) for a great magazine and benefits.

Recommended Websites
Ammo.com, deals on ammunition
Scopesfield: rifle scope guide
Ohioans for Concealed Carry
Clean Up ATF (heartburn for headquarters)
Concealed Carry Today
Knives Infinity, blades of all types
Buckeye Firearms Association
NFA Owners' Association
Leatherman Multi-tools And Knives
The Nuge Board
Dave Kopel
Steve Halbrook
Gunblog community
Dave Hardy
Bardwell's NFA Page
2nd Amendment Documentary
Clayton Cramer
Constitutional Classics
Law Reviews
NRA news online
Sporting Outdoors blog
Blogroll
Instapundit
Upland Feathers
Instapunk
Volokh Conspiracy
Alphecca
Gun Rights
Gun Trust Lawyer NFA blog
The Big Bore Chronicles
Good for the Country
Knife Rights.org
Geeks with Guns
Hugh Hewitt
How Appealing
Moorewatch
Moorelies
The Price of Liberty
Search
Email Subscription
Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

 

Credits
Powered by Movable Type 6.8.7
Site Design by Sekimori

« A mechanized militia? | Main | Nathan Kozuskanich's new article taken under fire »

Deputy Director of ATF files whistleblower complaint

Posted by David Hardy · 8 March 2008 03:39 PM

Story here.

I've heard of a number of such complaints, where some government employee can show that he revealed fraud, waste, abuse or criminality within his agency, and thereupon was demoted, given bad evaluations (which are death to promotion or bonuses), miserable assignments, etc. But this is the first time I've heard of one made by the Deputy Director of an agency. When even the no. 2 man in the entire agency can regretfully say "In retrospect, I was naive to believe that the department would welcome my honesty," the corruption in HQ is pretty grim.

To be objective: I've known enough of Washington bureaucracies to where I would bet good money that what we're really seeing is a fight between vipers. No. 2 man wants to get rid of No. 1 man, perhaps to take his job, finds out his corruptions, and uses them, but doesn't get the job. New No. 1 man decides No. 2 is dangerous, might find out his corruptions, gets rid of No. 2 and brings in a new guy who will be loyal to him. But then figure if this is how the highest level is run, you don't want to know what's going on at the Ass't Director level!

And who could punish the No. 2 man for excessive honesty? The new No.1 man.

"Domenech said ATF's acting director, Michael J. Sullivan, and other officials have taken actions meant to punish him for raising questions about [former ATF director] Truscott. The moves include transferring him out of headquarters and excluding him from meetings and duties that usually would be his responsibility.

He also alleged that, after years of outstanding job reviews and bonuses, he was given an average review in 2007, which was changed only after he complained. Because of the earlier review, however, he was denied a customary bonus, he said."
.....

"Domenech first raised complaints about Truscott's performance in December 2005 with William Mercer, then principal associate deputy attorney general, who later would be a pivotal figure in the controversy over the dismissal of the federal prosecutors.

Mercer and another official said Truscott "appeared to be in over his head, but since his name came directly from the White House, there was little that could be done about the situation," according to the complaint. Several months later, Domenech said, Mercer dismissed complaints about Truscott as coming from "disgruntled career staff."

UPDATE: SayUncle posts the story, and gets an interesting comment:

"Deputy Director Tattoo (Domenech - “Look Carl, da plane! da plane!) was voted off ATF’s Fantasy Island (headquarters) by the Islands newcomers after they confirmed how poorly he treated his agents. All the wrongdoings that Tattoo claims have been inflicted on him, he did to others, X 1000 in severity. Paybacks a bitch. Also, when Tattoo turned in Dana Carvey (Truscott) why did he and his co-’qou’spiritors have do it annomously? They were at the very top levels of ATF management. They wouldn’t put their names on the complaint a) because they are cowards, and b) because they were fully aware of ATF retribution tactics having led their own assaults against their field agents."

· BATFE

6 Comments | Leave a comment

emdfl | March 8, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply

Considering how the batfe treats the people it deals with, no suprise that it's head(s) are probably as corrupt an any in Washington. Speaking of which, you should see the new headquarters that was just built for the agency; looks like a Berlin bunker from WWII.

Letalis Maximus, Esq. | March 8, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply

I've seen Deputies of agencies go to prison...but I've never seen one blow the whistle.

Don Gwinn | March 8, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply

Well, it's possible. Knowing what we did find out about Truscott, it seems likely there must have been plenty we never found out.

But I keep picturing Destro turning on Cobra Commander.

tonythetiger | March 8, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply

Domenech is a fraud. He routinely ignored his agents as the Deputy Director with no regrets. Read the article 'Once its star, agent assails ATF' - http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0114atf1014.html - and scroll down to the chapter 'ATF Misteps'. You'll see how the real Edgar conducted business. He endangered his officers and rejected their concerns . The table has been turned and he doesn't like it.

straightarrrow | March 9, 2008 2:31 AM | Reply

As I have stated on other sites, f*** him and the horse he rode in on. If he inadvertently does some good for the nation, fine.

But, I didn't hear one word of remorse or regret for the abuses he helped heap on the nation and its citizens.

I would view it as justice if he lost everything he had. His home, his pension, his family, his reputation, and his future employability.

Bob R | March 10, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply

Crabs in a bucket !

Leave a comment