CBS Reporter to O'Reilly: More to Come on 'Fast and Furious'
CBS's Sharyl Attkisson, the only Big Three network reporter who's been regularly covering the "Fast and Furious" controversy, appeared on Thursday's O'Reilly Factor, throwing cold water on an earlier report that she was "unavailable" for further interviews on the story. Attkisson emphasized that there was a lot more to the issue than what has already reported, but "we need to get more confirmation."
The Fox News host pressed the journalist on her revelation from Tuesday's Laura Ingraham Show, that associate White House communications director Eric Schultz "screamed and cussed" at her for her reporting on the controversy. Attkisson would only state that "the conversation, as you reported it, was accurate," and later added that "the point is really not the content of that. The point is, story-wise, it seems significant and important how people handle questions, and how they react when you ask questions" [video clips available below the jump]
The CBS journalist also revealed that there was more depth to the issue than meets the eye:
ATTKISSON: Well, I would say there have been some pretty incredible developments in the past week. Also, documents- we haven't even had time to report on all of them. There are very sensitive documents and allegations going around. Many of them we haven't reported yet because we need to get more confirmation of them. But what you see on the surface, that we do report in our stories, is really only a part of what may be going on, and we may be reporting in the future when we can get confirmation.
Towards the end of the interview, Attkisson noted that she had requested to interview Attorney General Eric Holder on the issue many months ago, and had repeated that request earlier in the day, but had yet to hear back from the top official.
The full transcript of Bill O'Reilly's interview of CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson, which began 12 minutes into the 8 pm Eastern hour of Thursday's O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel:
BILL O'REILLY: 'Factor Follow Up' segment tonight- as we reported last night, CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has uncovered some Justice Department memos that show Attorney General [Eric] Holder knew about the 'Fast and Furious' gun sting long before he said he did.
Ms. Attkisson joins us now from Washington. So let's just walk through this, so even I can understand. When you found these memos, then you called the White House for comment, as any reporter would, and some guy actually yelled at you? Is that what happened?
SHARYL ATTKISSON, CBS NEWS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Well, it was during reporting on some of these documents, not those particular ones, and we had a conversation which, you well know about and have reported on and has been duly noted. And, ever since- and I have been moving on and trying to work on the next developments in the case. There have been quite a few-
O'REILLY: Okay. But let's not try to get away from this too quickly, Sharyl. (laughs) [White House Associate Communications Director] Eric Schultz is hired by the White House to handle this story, the 'Fast and Furious' story. So you call Eric up and you say that he was hostile? Was he hostile?
ATTKISSON: Well, I don't want to say exactly how the whole thing took place, because part of that is how we work together, in sharing information since the story began. There are assigned people in various part- sides of the story, to deal with the media, I do want to say that the conversation, as you reported it, was accurate and-
O'REILLY: Did he curse at you?
ATTKISSON: As you reported, that's accurate, and I think-
O'REILLY: Well, wait wait, wait, wait, wait. Now, I have had that happen to me, and you wouldn't- anybody would curse at me- I mean, come on. You get a promotion doing that. But you're a nice person. I mean, you're just somebody who's trying to get the story. Why would this guy curse at you? What led him to do that?
ATTKISSON: In the course of covering these kinds of stories, as you know, you get into a lot of difficult moments with people that you talk to, and they probably don't think you're as nice as you think I am, Mr. O'Reilly. But when you talk to them-
O'REILLY: No- well, you know what I'm talking about here. It usually lights a fuse- particularly if somebody like that- at that level, the White House level, did actually curse at a reporter, a CBS News correspondent- that's not something that happens every day, Sharyl. So what do you think lit that fuse?
ATTKISSON: Well, I would say there have been some pretty incredible developments in the past week. Also, documents- we haven't even had time to report on all of them. There are very sensitive documents and allegations going around. Many of them we haven't reported yet because we need to get more confirmation of them. But what you see on the surface, that we do report in our stories, is really only a part of what may be going on, and we may be reporting in the future when we can get confirmation-
O'REILLY: Okay-
ATTKISSON: And I can only say that this is a very sensitive story that goes into many facets-
O'REILLY: Absolutely-
ATTKISSON: And there's a lot of sensitivities-
O'REILLY: There's no doubt about it- particularly because today, President Obama stuck up for Holder and said- look, Holder didn't mislead anybody before Congress- whatever. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm speculating, based on your reporting- something that makes me uncomfortable- but you're in the field and I'm here in the studio. It looks to me like Eric Holder, the attorney general, did know about this 'Fast and Furious' operation, that led to the death of a Border Patrol agent, long before he told Congress he knew about it. Would that be accurate, at this point in time, to say?
ATTKISSON: You would be factually correct, and as we have reported, that the attorney general was briefed a long time ago or received briefing memos-
O'REILLY: Okay. So the facts say that he knew-
ATTKISSON: Let me finish that- was briefed on 'Fast and Furious,' not-
O'REILLY: So then he goes up to the Hill, and he tells Darryl Issa, the congressman from California- you know, I just found out about this. I really didn't know. So it looks like Holder is not telling the truth. That's what it looks like. Are there any extenuating circumstances that you have found?
ATTKISSON: None so far, and I've put in a separate query to the Department of Justice, which- we're continuing to report on the story- to ask them to clarify- okay, when is it, if he misunderstood the question-
O'REILLY: Yeah, when was it that he knew about it?
ATTKISSON: When was he did- right-
O'REILLY: And when did you put that request into the DOJ?
ATTKISSON: I put that request in today.
O'REILLY: Okay. Did you put a request to interview Holder?
ATTKISSON: I've repeated that request- I repeated it today, yes.
O'REILLY: How long have you been trying to get him?
ATTKISSON: I believe we asked for our first interview request with him many months ago. I would say February, March-
O'REILLY: Okay. So you have been trying to get him for a long time and he hasn't come up. Now, have you asked Eric Schultz at the White House for an apology? You don't have to take that garbage.
ATTKISSON: Well, there's nothing to apologize for. That's really-
O'REILLY: Well, he cussed at you.
ATTKISSON: That's really- the point is really not the content of that. The point is, story-wise, it seems significant and important how people handle questions, and how they react when you ask questions. It's not that anybody owes somebody an apology, and again-
O'REILLY: All right. Well, I was just-
ATTKISSON: We have moved on to the developments in the next-
O'REILLY: It's a curiosity to me because it is at a high level. Last question: in your opinion- you have been doing this how many years- have you been investigating- how many years?
ATTKISSON: Gosh, a long time.
O'REILLY: Okay. In your opinion, is this a big story or is it just a little story? Is it big? Is it going to lead to, perhaps, a resignation by the attorney general? Is President Obama going to be embarrassed? Is it that big?
ATTKISSON: I have no idea about that. But there's no doubt that what we already know, and what we have already reported on, I think, is incredibly important, and is an incredibly major story that we've only- that we really have a lot more to learn about.
O'REILLY: All right. Sharyl, we appreciate you coming on the program very much. Thank you.
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Comments
Hmm...
Submitted by retrocon on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 6:42pm.
CBS? Wasn't that the network of Dan Rather-lie-to-you? The creators of the modern liberal standard of reporting known as "if it's vilifying a republican, fake is fine" for the networks.?
I mean, for what reason could they possibly need "more confirmation?"
Oh, her bosses are scared crudless of Oblama.
Got it.
Hey, i give her credit for trying.
→ Sharyl Atkisson
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 7:15pm.
I watched in rapt appreciation as this courageous woman shared as much as she could with America.
I made the observation last night to the effect, "Thank God for FOX News, as ms. Atkisson is less likely to be silenced by CBS or the Obama Administration when there is an advocacy for fairness in play.
I hope she is grudgingly awarded a Pulitzer for her work. I hope Eric Holder watches the ceremony from prison.
CBS must be a little embarassed..
Submitted by kata on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 7:24pm.
that their reporter has to go outside her own network to be heard. Or perhaps they are just covering their eyes and ears and hoping Media Matters does cover fire.
Sharyl....
Submitted by Forbus on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 7:39pm.
be careful starting your car....and get yourself a food taster, dear. And get ready for the Joe-The-Plumber treatment.
God help and protect her . . .
Submitted by Benjamin on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 11:29pm.
If she was reporting on the Bush Administration, she'd be a sure bet for a Pulitizer Prize. Reporting on the Obama regime, the most corrupt administration in U.S. history, puts her career in jeopardy. They will try to destroy her.
What an upside down world we live in today.
The Great 60 Minutes is too busy
Submitted by frank14 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 7:41pm.
doing Andy Rooney tributes to investigate this corrupt Chicago politician and his cronies.
more to come for sure
Submitted by Mutantone on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:28pm.
how high up the food chain does it go? It was all intentionally done to negate the second amendment rights of US citizens, what was the first thing that they tried to do when the story broke but install stricter gun laws, an even of their own manufacturing. What more is this administration capable of, suspension of elections?
Operation Gunrunner–in which the government authorized the sale of weapons with the intent of letting these weapons fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels, which were used to Kill an American border agent.
Operation Castaway–in which the government authorized the sale of weapons knowing they would fall into the hands of Honduran gangs, such as MS13 and the Mara Salvatrucha and the rival Mara 18, An estimated 20,590 people died violently here in the last five years, according to the Madrid-based nonprofit Observers of Violence in massive shoot outs to control the drug industry.
Project Gangwalker the ATF and the DOF allowed the straw purchases of weapons which eventually ended up in the hands of United States gang members in Indiana” Operation Community Shield,” individuals are from El Salvador, three are from Mexico, one is from Honduras and one is from Haiti. ICE said the individuals are members or associates of the following street gangs: MS-13, Sur-13, and Zoe Pound. Charged in connection with the shooting of an Indianapolis police officer last week are gang members, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office Gonzalez-Ramirez is a member of the Puros Vatos Locos street gang, and Taboada-Perez is a member of the SCT-13 gang. Both have tattoos that express allegiance to those gangs, authorities said. and other weapons have been found at crime scenes in that state and surely have spread out from there to other gangs.
Now picture gang bangers in armed flash mobs, And just where did that army that Obama formed disappear to?
Add to that a state governor that thinks there should be no elections for two years until the congress can fix the problems they are facing. And Obama does not think that Americans understand democracy as well as he does.
It all leads to the UN small arms treaty that Hillary signed off on all to disarm the American populace.
And all these are now excesses to suspend the second amendment rights of the citizens.
It all sounds treasonous to me
In early 2009
Submitted by Bodini on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 10:42am.
Hillary made an unsubstantiated claim that 90% of the guns used by the Mexican drug cartels were from the US. To bolster the lie in an attempt to force anti-second amendment legislation through congress or get some liberal judge to issue a decree, I believe:
Obama, Holder, Clinton, Biden, and Napolitano devised the gunrunning operation as a LEFT WING CONSPIRACY to force gun control down our throats.
My vote is we hand over
Submitted by dscott on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:55pm.
My vote is we hand over Holder to the Mexican Authorities. They will get all the info out of him in a couple of hot soda sessions. After the second bottle of hot soda up the nose Holder will sing and Obama will be implicated in the murders of Mexican citizens. No need to spend millions of dollars on a Special Prosecutor, the Mexicans will be more than happy to foot the bill to get at all those responsible for the deaths of hundreds of their citizens.
You all know that not only did Holder fully know of the plan but it was pitched to Obama as the means to rationalize draconian gun control. THAT's why Obama said they were working on it "under the radar". The juvenile narcissist couldn't help shooting off his big mouth, it was just another way he could show the middle finger to the rest of the country.
They had to know
Submitted by celator on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 9:09pm.
I agree with your point that Holder and probably Obama knew of the Fast and Furious operation. It's just inconceivable to me that an off-the-radar operation like this, so loaded with the potential of going wrong, was done without the approval of POTUS and the Attorney General. More to come on the story, no doubt.
I would vote...
Submitted by retrocon on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 9:30pm.
i would vote for handing him over the Mexican cartels, not the authorities...
Oh, wait, he's part of the Chicago-Obama mob... he'd be running them in a month if we did.
I so hope this lands Herr Erich von Holderen and the Dear Ruler
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 9:12pm.
...under the prison.
And I hope Sharyl Attkisson is watching her back, as I believe these frauds are capable of just about anything.
No joke.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
You can expect Sharyl to be drummed out of CBS soon.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 9:17pm.
There will be some flimsy excuse to cancel her contract and then the management of the news division will spend the rest of the time bashing her reporting for one reason or another. It took a while for CBS to deal with the Mary Mapes/Dan Rather fiasco, but it will happen. Perhaps her assignment will suddenly change to covering radar stations in Alaska or an extended assignment doing a piece on Antarctic ice research stations.
At What Point
Submitted by Ashrak on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 9:24pm.
do the American people say "Hey, wait a minute here, why is John Boehner, our Speaker of the House, remaining silent about this"?
If John Boehner wanted this to be front and center, all he would have to do is say so, daily, before all the cameras and microphones that are available for him to speak into. And that is beside the fact he could speak the record within the House every day. SO THEN, why
is he so hushed.......as hushed, or even more so, than Holder and Obama and the rest of the crooks who are so guilty in all of this.
Bill O has to ask if this is a big story? Had the teacher done even a cursory review, like that of a C- student blasting through their homework, he would know that this is a monumental story. I get a kick out of this being in the follow up segment - as if he has been reporting on this all along or something. Sheesh.
Hey Bill, how about you ask Mr. Speaker why he isn't speaking? Oh and Bill, ummmmm, Barry is more than embarrassed here, he is guilty of the highest crime there is. Treason. Using Americans tax dollars in a direct attempt to undermine and destroy one the most dear and closely held inalienable rights enumerated within our Constitution is exactly that - Treason.
America deserves a Speaker of the House, and quite frankly, an honest media "journalist" to SAY it. Barry must not be allowed to just run out the clock, bow out and go hide. He should be punished for what he did. He must be punished. So too must all the others who engaged in this conspiracy willingly. Those who participated as a result of a direct order must tell the truth about who gave them that order.
For that to take place, we need LEADERSHIP coming from the Speaker of the House. And so is it true that so far there has been leadership, that is why there has been so much silence for almost a year now.
I call you, John Boehner, SPEAK. Do so DAILY until such time as the canaries are singing so loud that Barry cannot ignore it. Enough of the Silence, Mr. Speaker. With all due respect, stop embarrassing yourself, Mr. Speaker.
Not...
Submitted by retrocon on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 9:36pm.
Not to defend Boehner, but he does have his Lt's, the committee chairs, out there doing what they can.
Frankly, i don't think the MSM would give any more time to Boehner than they are to them.
They simply do not want to report on the corruption of this regime!
God could come down from Heaven and make a statement condemning Obama, Holder, and everyone else in this corrupt admin, and the main stream media would just say "please ignore the talking light in the sky, and as our President reminds us, there is a separation of church and state."
Who can forget....
Submitted by Forbus on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 6:32am.
the wall-to-wall coverage the Scooter Libby "scandal" received from the national media. Now we have at least TWO major scandals...one involving the death, or deaths, of law enforcement officials..and involving the Attorney General....and the MSM is contorting itself into "Twister"-like shapes to avoid reporting the details.
This reporter as well as Jake Tapper from ABC are the only
Submitted by gmaniac1 on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 7:45am.
journalists outside of Fox News that have any credibility whatsoever. I mean with only one network with any journalistic standards there's only so many slots that can be filled if that is their occupation (not of Wall Street and other private property).
Fox got Ed Henry and others from the liberal lockstep media so why not these two?
The scandal
Submitted by Bob K on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 3:53pm.
is just getting better and better. I have noticed a lack of threads and comments on the topic at my favorite leftist website for fun reading, DU. Really telling is that on the few there are many or now falling back on the "It started during the Bush administration!" argument. LOL. They are afraid.....VERY afraid.