ATF CHIEF DENIES BLAME FOR GUN-TRACKING PROGRAM

The head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
told congressional investigators he wasn't to blame for a troubled
gun-tracking operation, saying he wasn't aware of its details until
after public questions had been raised.

Kenneth Melson, the acting ATF director, in his first detailed
comments on the gun program, contradicted testimony and documents
previously released by lawmakers suggesting he was more familiar with
the initiative known as Fast and Furious.

Sen. Charles Grassley and Rep. Darrell Issa, both Republicans,
released details Wednesday of the Melson interview, which took place
Monday, in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.

The Fast and Furious operation was designed to monitor purchases by
people suspected of buying firearms for others-in particular drug
cartel gangs in Mexico. But many of the arms turned up at crime scenes
in the U.S. and Mexico.

Messrs. Issa and Grassley say the ATF should have known it couldn't
track the weapons and that firearms ended up in the hands of deadly
drug squads.

The Justice Department disputed the lawmakers' assertion, cited in Mr.
Melson's interview, that the department was dragging its feet on
cooperation with the congressional inquiry.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month Mr. Melson was expected to
be ousted as criticism mounted about the program. Subsequent reports
also suggested he would resign. Mr. Melson denied those reports to the
congressional staff.

Mr. Melson's departure has been delayed by Justice Department
deliberations on how to reassign him without appearing to punish him
while an internal investigation of the operation continues, according
to people familiar with the matter.

Richard Cullen, Mr. Melson's attorney, said Mr. Melson expected to be
moved to another job in the Justice Department. He said that was the
plan after department officials appointed him to the ATF post in early
2009. When all the facts are disclosed, Mr. Melson "will be seen as
somebody who did a very good job," Mr. Cullen said.

Previous documents released by the lawmakers and testimony from ATF
agents and officials showed Mr. Melson having hands-on involvement
with Fast and Furious. In response, Mr. Melson said he was briefed
only during a specific period and that he didn't learn then about
specific tactics.

The letter also said Mr. Melson raised concerns about a separate
investigation run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug
Enforcement Administration, sister agencies with the Justice
Department. Higher-level suspected traffickers, targeted by ATF, were
possibly paid informants of the FBI and DEA, according to the letter.