President Joe Biden’s second pick to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has secured the backing of a prominent group of legal figures. A distinguished group of legal professionals supports President Joe Biden’s second choice for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Seven members of the prosecution team in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing case, including the lead attorney Joe Hartzler, sent a letter to the top senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday praising Biden’s nominee: Steve Dettelbach. The team’s successful prosecution secured the conviction of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who carried out the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which killed 168 people and injured more in one of the country’s deadliest domestic terrorist attacks.
Ex-federal prosecutors have praised Dettelbach’s work in prosecuting cases involving violent extremists. One man also firebombed an Ohio courthouse.
So, “Mr. Dettelbach has direct professional experience and is qualified to lead ATF?”
According to the prosecution team, although it was 27 years since McVeigh and Nichols attempted to incite violence against America’s government, they still recall vividly and with great respect and enduring gratitude, the role played by many ATF agents in bringing domestic terrorists to justice.
Biden pledged his administration would fight white supremacy and domestic terrorism during his inauguration speech. Ex-federal prosecutors said that the confirmation of an ATF nominee was crucial to those goals.
According to the prosecutors, domestic terrorism remains a significant threat in this country. The prosecutors stated that “Unfortunately, however, we also know that domestic terrorism continues to be a major threat in our country.”
Biden nominated Dettelbach after he withdrew David Chipman, his first choice for the ATF position. Chipman also lost support from Democrats. Dettelbach received endorsements from prominent organizations like the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
ATF has had no permanent head since 2015. Biden’s plans for expanding background checks on firearms, and fighting gun violence will be front-and-center during the second push to find an ATF head.
