The Family of Slain U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry Issues Statement on the Resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder
Eric Holder’s announced resignation as Attorney General of the United States is long overdue. Under Holder’s watch, the Department of Justice and ATF orchestrated the failed gun trafficking investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious. During this debacle, over 1,200 assault weapons were allowed to make their way to the Mexican drug cartels and were subsequently used in numerous acts of violence. Two of these weapons were ultimately discovered at the murder scene where United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in December 2010 near Rio Rico, Arizona. Seven members of a Rip-Crew employed by the Sinaloa drug cartel have since been indicted for Brian’s murder.
Despite Holder’s aggressive pursuit of the Mexican nationals directly involved in Brian’s murder, the Attorney General has repeatedly failed to accept responsibility for the ill-fated gun trafficking investigation and has most regrettably failed to hold those DOJ and ATF officials responsible for the many mistakes made in the operation. Despite repeated pleas by Brian Terry’s family, Holder has chosen to not discipline those individuals found at fault by DOJ’s own Inspector General. Despite the clear and present danger that exists even today to law enforcement and the general public on both sides of the border, Holder has repeatedly refused to hold government officials accountable for the deadly mistakes made in Operation Fast and Furious.
You can help honor Brian Terry by contributing to the Brian Terry Foundation.
Immediately after Brian Terry’s murder, Holder’s Justice Department inexplicably denied that ATF had ever “walked” guns despite the obvious testimony of ATF whistleblowers that were part of the operation. Moreover, Holder has continually failed to cooperate with Congress and has withheld records sought by investigators looking into Operation Fast and Furious. Holder’s resignation is welcomed by the Terry Family and should have occurred immediately after Brian Terry’s death and the revelation that the men that killed Brian were carrying weapons supplied to them by ATF. It is the hope of the Terry Family that Holder’s departure will lead to full disclosure of the thousands of documents still sought by investigators still looking into Operation Fast and Furious. It is also our hope that the next Attorney General will do a far better job at protecting the American public and guarding the many rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
— Ralph Terry on behalf of the Terry Family
Agent Brian Terry, a member of the U.S. Border Patrol’s elite tactical unit known as BORTAC, was on duty when he was shot to death while tracking members of a suspected drug cartel rip crew on December 14th, 2010 near Rio Rico, AZ. Two semi- automatic assault rifles similar to AK-47’s were found at the murder scene and ultimately traced to the botched gun trafficking investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious.
Consider a donation to the Brian Terry Foundation as a way to honor the memory of Brian Terry. Donate today.