AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, A CONVENIENT “MISTAKE:” “The Justice Department on Friday provided Congress with documents detailing how department officials gave inaccurate information to a U.S. senator in the controversy surrounding Operation Fast and Furious, the flawed law enforcement initiative aimed at dismantling major arms trafficking networks on the Southwest border. In a letter last February to Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Justice Department said that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had not sanctioned the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser and that the agency makes every effort to intercept weapons that have been purchased illegally. In connection with Operation Fast and Furious, both statements turned out to be incorrect.”

UPDATE: Law Prof. Joseph Olson emails: “It was so simple to lie and they thought it would do the trick. Exactly how every cover up commences. Then the ball of string unravels.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: Prof. Stephen Clark writes:

They dump this stuff on Friday afternoon. Why? Does anyone even pretend to be surprised anymore?

You lie to the DOJ and you go to prison. The DOJ lies to you and it’s just another day at the office.

Indeed.