Settlement Possible In Litigation Stemming From Operation ‘Fast And Furious’

Counsel for the United States Department of Justice and for congressional Republicans said Tuesday settlement talks were underway for litigation stemming from Operation Fast and Furious, a fumbled attempt by the Justice Department to eliminate illegal gun trafficking to Mexican drug cartels.

Operation Fast and Furious began in 2009 as a response to allegations that illegal guns were being fed to Mexican criminals along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. Federal agents in charge of the operation targeted high-level leaders of the gun trafficking ring and ignored low-level buyers, who allegedly purchased 2,000 illegal firearms.

Public interest in the scandal grew after the death of U.S. Border Patrol agent, Brian Terry. Terry was killed in 2010 and two guns connected to the case were found near the area he died. After an initial probe, the Justice Department’s own inspector general released a report stating he found supervision of the operation “inadequate.”

Although the report cleared Attorney General Eric Holder of any wrongdoing, House Republicans sued him in order to obtain documents regarding the probe. Holder was then held in contempt after Republicans accused him and the Obama administration of withholding the documents.

While lawyers from both sides said it was unclear whether a settlement would definitely move forward, they plan to meet again to discuss further possibilities. A full trial seems unlikely, as Justice Department lawyer Ian Gershengorn said a settlement would be “the appropriate course here.”

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