Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says President Obama’s nomination of B. Todd Jones to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) raises “serious questions” because of Jones’s ties to the Fast and Furious scandal.
“The new nominee, B. Todd Jones, is a familiar face to the committee, but his ties to the Fast and Furious scandal raise serious questions,” Grassley said in a statement.
Jones has been acting director of the ATF since August 2011, replacing Kenneth Melson, who resigned amid the guns-to-Mexico investigation. On Wednesday, announcing his “executive actions” on gun control, Obama said he would nominate Jones to hold the job on a permanent basis.
“Since Congress hasn’t confirmed a director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in six years, they should confirm Todd Jones, who will be — who has been acting director, and I will be nominating for the post,” Obama said.