More than a week ago, the ACLU sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms requesting the agency reverse their decision to block Operation Fast and Furious whistleblower John Dodson from publishing a book about the scandal because it would "have a negative impact on morale." After receiving the letter, ATF changed their story and said Dodson couldn't publish and profit from the book in his capacity as a working federal agent due to federal regulation, even though the outside work denial letter from ATF to Dodson never mentioned that regulation.
Now, ATF is saying Dodsoon can publish his book so long as he doesn't get paid and after supervisors make redactions.
A U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter says the Justice Department, ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will review Dodson's manuscript and, after making redactions to protect sensitive law enforcement information, will clear it for publication. However, federal employee guidelines prohibit Dodson and other active agents from making a profit from their work in law enforcement, the official said.
Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt of Congress in June 2012 after hiding information about Operation Fast and Furious through heavily redacted documents.
ATF has denied censoring Dodson despite denying his outside work request to publish. The family of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was murdered by illegal Mexican bandits carrying Fast and Furious guns in December of 2010, wants Dodson's book to be published.