I hope if you are confirmed, Mr. Jones, that you will do what the President has said his administration wants to do.

You have stated that on November 3, 2011, you issued a memorandum saying that the ATF must take all reasonable steps to prevent criminal misuse of firearms.

I believe every President--at least since Reagan, I have talked to every President about protecting whistleblowers.

Despite the congressional prohibition against keeping a national gun registry, I know that ATF keeps a suspect gun database.

Why did you allow Gillett to retire rather than hold him accountable?

I have also heard allegations from several States of ATF agents going to Federal firearm licensees and taking pictures of every Form 4473 in the store.

Okay, retired. Not disciplined.

Senator Grassley notified the Chairman that he intended to invoke a not very much used Senate rule.

Generally, when a nominee is subject to an open investigation, the Committee does not move forward until the issues are resolved.

I objected to holding this hearing today and requested the hearing be postponed.

The public interest demand resolution of these issues.

How is it possible that one of your senior leaders in headquarters could be overseas for months while drawing a Federal paycheck?

These are serious charges and ones that are of particular concern to me as a known defender of whistleblowers.

Senator Leahy and I worked very hard... to take care of the problem.

On October 12, 2012, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subpoenaed 'all agendas, meeting notes, meeting minutes, and follow-up reports for the Attorney General's Advisory Committee that refer or relate to Operation Fast…

ATF Deputy Director William McMahon was the official in Washington, DC, primarily responsible for supervising Gillett and Newell.

The Privacy Act does not apply to hearings in Congress, but let us move on.

We amended the False Claims Act several years ago precisely to prevent the outcome like this.