Trump moves ATF agents away from fighting gun crime to intimidate voters at the polls

WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, responded to the news that the Department of Justice is sending ATF agents to “monitor polling places” during the election. This is a dangerous departure from the ATF’s mission, which includes arresting violent offenders and gun traffickers and protecting American communities from violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. 

“Instead of directing the ATF to do its job, the Trump administration is sending agents to polling places in its latest desperate attempt to intimidate voters and election workers. It won’t work,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. “This is a ridiculous use of an agency with limited resources, in charge of fighting violent crime. The federal agents who are supposed to be protecting our communities will instead be standing around polling locations for an administration that knows Americans are about to reject its extreme agenda. The Trump administration must immediately rescind these plans and allow the ATF to get back to work.”