DOJ names new acting director for ATF

The Justice Department appointed B. Todd Jones as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, effective on Aug. 31, the agency announced.

Jones, a former prosecutor and military judge advocate, will continue to serve in his current position as U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. Jones replaces ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson, who has been appointed senior advisor on forensic science in the Office of Legal Policy, the announcement said.

The personnel change is being viewed as fallout of the ATF’s controversial “Fast and Furious” sting operation to track arms associated with drug cartels in Mexico. Melson was acticing ATF director at the time. During the operation, ATF agents reportedly lost track of weapns they were watching as part of an attempted sting against gun smugglers, and one of the guns was used to murder an ATF special agent.

In June, ATF denied rumors that Melson might resign.