Department of Justice

DOJ Report: US Attorney Leaked Memo To 'Undermine' Fast And Furious Whistleblower

Hunter Walker | May 20, 2013, 6:29PM

Former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke speaking to reporters in 2011.

Update: May 21, 2013 10:54 AM

In a scathing new report Monday, the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General accused onetime Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke of leaking confidential documents to a reporter in a politically-motivated attempt to "undermine" a whistleblower who helped spark the investigation into the "Fast and Furious" operation.

Burke, a former aide to Janet Napolitano while she was Arizona governor and then secretary of Homeland Security, was appointed as U.S. attorney by President Obama in 2009. He resigned as he was initially being questioned about the leak in 2011.

The Inspector General report described Burke's conduct as "wholly unbefitting a U.S. Attorney" and referred the case for for possible disciplinary proceedings by the state bar in Arizona. The inspector general found it particularly egregious that Burke's alleged leak came shortly after he was reprimanded for another leak, to the New York Times, involving the controversial Fast And Furious operation.

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Arizona

Arizona Lawmakers Are Invited To Wear Bullet-Proof Vests On The Job

David Taintor | April 5, 2013, 5:01PM

Citizens tour the Arizona Capitol grounds in Phoenix in this Dec. 14, 2004 file photo.

An Arizona state representative has a novel idea to increase safety among state lawmakers: start wearing bullet-proof vests.

State Rep. Bob Thorpe (R) sent an email on Thursday to all Arizona House and Senate members, inviting them to attend an event this coming Wednesday at the capitol, where someone from a company called Arizona Tactical is scheduled to educate lawmakers about the protective vests it sells.

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