(Image Source: Christian Science Monitor)

BY AUSTIN FAX

The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- Kenneth Melson -- has been reassigned. Or as some put it, demoted-- for his role in the controversial program called “Fast and Furious” that provided guns to Mexican drug cartels for tracking purposes.

Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin thinks calls Melson’s punishment-- a slap on the wrist.
This is what she had to say to NRA news.

“It’s just another example of the Washington Beltway mantra of ‘Screw up, move up, and cover up.’ And it’s not any surprise coming from an agency and the Dept. of Justice making the announcement about these quote-unquote ‘reassignments,’ and reshufflings.”

But even with the personnel change, the ATF could still be in hot water. California GOP rep Darrell Issa says Congress will finish its thorough investigation once all relevant documents are made available-- something he says has been a problem.
Here’s Issa on Fox News.

Greta van Susteren: “Are you feeling gamed? There is legitimate stuff that needs to be kept out of public domain. There is also gaming someone. Are you being gamed, or is this legitimate stuff you feel like -- you can tell by looking at some of it?
Rep. Issa: “This is one of the problems. We have information given by third parties then redacted when the administration gave us their version. We know we are being gamed and we think the time for the game should be up.”

With Melson gone, the ATF looks to Minnesota federal attorney B. Todd Jones to take over the reins. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s James Walsh says-- Jones will have his plate full as he continues both jobs.  

“Doing double duty as U.S. attorney and director of the ATF is not without precedent. Jones said he will rely on technology and ‘a terrific staff’ in Minnesota to juggle both jobs. But, he noted, there are five direct flights to Washington from the Twin Cities each day and, at least in the beginning, he will spend quite a bit of time in the nation's capital.”

Jones says he will stay on at the ATF until the Senate confirmation of Andrew Traver, is made permanent. But as NBC’s Pete Williams explains, that could be an extremely difficult process.

“It’s supposed to be a confirmed Senate position, but everybody who runs ATF is always acting because it’s something that just can’t get confirmed in the United States Senate, is that correct?”
“That’s right, because of the politics of the National Rifle Association, which doesn’t really want a very muscular ATF, though if you ask the NRA they will tell you it has always been because of policy differences over the nominees.”

But regardless of who is in charge of the ATF, Kent Hoover of Portfolio says you will see the bureau take a different direction towards controversial issues in the future.

“Entrepreneurial, out-of-the-box thinking may be valued in the business world, but it can cost you your job if you’re a government official. But you can bet that Todd Jones won’t try anything like this botched sting operation. At this point, risk taking is not a quality sought in an ATF executive.”