DOJ & Media Matters Coordinated Fast & Furious Reports

The Department of Justice and Media Matters corresponded and coordinated on stories about Operation Fast and Furious “gunwalking, pharmacy ” going so far as to disparage the citizen journalist who initially broke the story, Matthew Boyle of The Daily Caller reported today, citing emails obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request to determine the extent of cooperation between the government and the “progressive” advocacy group.

“The emails…often show department public affairs chief Tracy Schmaler communicating with Media Matters bloggers,” Fox News reported in a follow-up story noting the arrangement targeted administration critics. “Sometimes, the emails were in response to inquiries. Other times, Schmaler was pitching ideas, according to the Caller.”

“Nice to know the Gunwalker criminals are paying attention,” Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars observed in his response to the story, which included emails where Media Matters’ Matt Gertz told DOJ spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler that Vanderboegh was “three inches away from being an insurrectionist.”

“The revelation comes as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is preparing to hear from DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz about his report on the gun walking scandal launched by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” Seattle Gun Rights Examiner Dave Workman noted.-[source]