Chuck Grassley

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thanks to each of you for your testimony.

That is our system, it works, and it is the best that mankind has ever known.

Under our Constitution and statutes, judges and justices must apply the law impartially and call cases as they see them, without regard for the status or political views of the litigants.

Everyone should agree that all Americans, whether you are an individual or a business entity, must have confidence that when they appear before a judge they will receive a fair and unbiased adjudication of their claims and defenses.

I would like to have you give a complete and thorough, timely response to that letter.

What documents would you require to determine age?

The biggest obstacle to the passage of the DREAM Act is not the specific issues I have mentioned. It is the failure of the Federal Government to keep its promise when it comes to immigration reform.

I take great exception to the testimony that badmouths ethanol when, quite frankly, you have got a choice between having ethanol and having higher grain prices.

We do believe that we do need a comprehensive rule.

Do you have any science at this point that tells you that the meat may not be as safe as for a hog that is not downed?

I am not aware of any data or study that show euthanized downed pigs and not allowing them, that meat, to enter the food chain will increase food safety.

I applaud that motive.

You are bringing attention to a lot of things that are seen as a global issue.

Thank you. I have three questions. I may not get to all of them because I want three people maybe to look at the first one, Espinel, Weinstein, and Barnett.

I usually start out my remarks by thanking you for holding this hearing.

Our country is a global leader in innovating, creating, and developing new technology and products.

It would be a shame if the Justice Department makes Mr. Melson the only fall guy for this disastrous strategy. There's plenty of blame to go around at both the ATF and Justice Department.

The operation was approved by the ATF Phoenix field office, and the United States attorney's office in Arizona, per normal practice.

We think it goes very high up in the Justice Department. But how high, I'm not sure.

It remains our understanding that ATF's Operation Fast and Furious did not knowingly permit straw buyers to take guns into Mexico.

The allegation that ATF sanctioned or otherwise knowingly allowed the sale of assault weapons to straw purchasers who transported them to Mexico is false.

This investigation is not about politics. It is about getting the facts.

ATF is supposed to stop criminals from trafficking guns to Mexican drug cartels.

I hope that we can get the Terry family the answers that they deserve.

Any attempt to retaliate against them for their testimony today would be unfair, unwise, and unlawful.