Brian Terry Family Statement on Release of Justice Department Report on Fast and Furious

For Immediate Release
September 19, 2012

Contact: Mike Scerbo
Rose+Moser+Allyn Public and Online Relations
Office: (480) 423-1414
Cell: (602) 615-6523
mscerbo@rosemoserallynpr.com


“Brian Terry’s Family is still reviewing the Justice Department Report on Operation Fast and Furious. The Family is pleased that, upon an initial assessment, it appears to document the serious, systemic failures of the Justice Department at all levels, from field agents in the Phoenix office of ATF and prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office in the District of Arizona up through ATF  senior leadership and the Attorney General and his top deputies in Washington, D.C. We will refrain from further comment on the report until we have had a chance to fully digest this information and the conclusions offered by the Inspector General. We also remain hopeful that all documents related to Fast and Furious are released, including those President Obama has refused to release citing 'Executive Privilege.' Only full disclosure can guarantee complete transparency.

We would like to add at this time, however, that we are disappointed in the tone and message of the Justice Department's response to the publication of the OIG report.  The Department's failures chronicled in the report had deadly and tragic consequences for hundreds of innocent American and Mexican victims of violent crimes. And our son, friend, relative and hero, Brian Terry, is dead.  Questions and concerns should have been raised before the weapons purchased in this failed government sting wound up in the hands of drug dealers and killers, including those who killed Brian.   The focus today should not be on political spin control nor on praise for the DOJ supervisors who chose to resign in light of the report's findings, but rather on the gross negligence of the Department documented in the report and the tragic consequences of that negligence."

-Robert Heyer, on behalf of the Terry Family.  Mr. Heyer was Brian Terry’s cousin and serves as the Chairman of the Brian Terry Foundation.

---

The Brian Terry Foundation website www.honorbrianterry.com is collecting donations to raise funds for the families of slain U.S. Border Patrol agents, to establish educational scholarships for men and women wishing to pursue careers in law enforcement, and to raise awareness of any border related initiatives that affect the well-being and safety of Border Patrol Agents. The Terry family wants to make certain that any mistakes made by the Justice Department during Operation Fast and Furious are never repeated.

To arrange interviews with Mr. Heyer about the recent development and today’s statement please contact Mike Scerbo.

Brian Terry Newsletter

Social Networks

Get Involved