By Steve Neavling

U.S. House Republicans are demanding testimony from ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and others as conservative lawmakers plan to grill the agency during a Judiciary Committee hearing in April. 

Republicans are zeroing in on the ATF’s tightened regulations on pistol-stabilizing braces. 

The demand for testimony comes after far-right U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a bill in January to abolish the ATF following the tightened regulations. 

In a letter to Dettelbach, Republicans Jim Jordan, of Ohio, and Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, allege the ATF is violating American’s right to own guns. 

“The ATF’s lack of transparency comes after the agency issued a final rule banning stabilizing pistol braces, and as the agency continues to shut down lawful businesses through the zero-tolerance policy for federal firearms dealers (FFLs),” the Republicans wrote.

“This ruling raises serious doubts about ATF’s ability to regulate pistol braces absent a clear mandate from Congress,” Jordan and Massie added.

Republicans set the hearing for April 26, saying in the letter that it “will be an opportunity for the Committee to hear directly from you, as the head of the agency, about the decisions that led the ATF to implement these controversial policies.”

Republicans are also requesting interviews from several senior ATF officials, including Chief of Staff Daniel Board, Acting Assistant Director of Public and Government Affairs Justin O’Connell, and Deputy Assistant Director Megan Bennett.

The ATF previously said that its rule does not impact stabilizing braces that are “objectively designed and intended as a ‘stabilizing brace’ for use by individuals with disabilities, and not for shouldering the weapon as a rifle. Such stabilizing braces are designed to conform to the arm and not as a buttstock. However, if the firearm with the ‘stabilizing brace’ is a short-barreled rifle, it needs to be registered within 120-days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.”

By Steve Neavling

New ATF Director Steven Dettelbach said collaboration with other law enforcement agencies is key to reducing gun violence. 

In an interview Thursday with GM3, Dettelbach said he was in New York to meet with other agencies.

“The days of ‘this is turf, that’s your turf’ are over in law enforcement. We work together.” 

He added, “Back when I started this business as a prosecutor, 30 years ago, there were eight different agencies doing the same thing in their own little task forces, in their own little units. We cannot do that anymore. We have to share intelligence and share bodies in real-time ways.”

Dettelbach also said that it’s important to prevent people convicted of crimes from committing again. 

“The No. 1 predictor in many cases of whether you’re going to do something violent and be a criminal is wether you have done it before,” he said. “We need to do a better job of making sure people aren’t recidivists.”

Dettelbach was sworn in on July 19, about a week after the U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment. As the agency’s first permanent leader since 2015, he said he owes it to his agents to defend them. 

“I feel a lot of obligation,” he said. “To do it is to stand up and fight for those (ATF) folks.”

By Steve Neavling

Steven Dettelbach was sworn in Tuesday as the new ATF director, becoming the first Senate-approved leader of the agency in seven years. 

“Thank you, Attorney General Garland, and I also want to say thanks to President Biden for your confidence in me, for fighting for the American people every day and for fighting to provide ATF with a permanent director,” Dettelbach said at the investiture ceremony at the Justice Department.

Dettelbach said the job is his “single greatest honor of my professional life,” but it’s also the “greatest professional challenge of my life.”

At a time of mass shootings and other gun violence, Dettelbach said the ATF has to be willing to take new approaches. 

“We have to be open to new ideas,” he said. “We have to be open to new partnerships. We have to be open to a new and urgent sense of unity.”

Dettelbach acknowledged the job will be difficult.

“Make no mistake, the agency and its mission are challenged as never before. We all know about it,” he said. “Rising crime, rising firearm violence, rising mass shooting incidents and a rising tide of extremist violence that threatens people and safety in this nation. 

“And it’s going to take all of us in this nation, in law enforcement, working together to address those threats.”

He told ATF employees that “you have my heart, my soul, you have everything that I can give to try to join you in this effort.”

Before introducing Dettelbach on Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said he had faith in the new director. 

“I know that you will lead this agency, particularly its courageous and dedicated individuals, with integrity and skill,” Garland said.

Watch the ceremony here.

By Steve Neavling

The ATF finally has a Senate-confirmed leader. 

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday narrowly approved Steven Dettelbach to be the director of the ATF, making him the agency’s first permeant leader since 2015. 

Dettelbach, a former U.S. attorney from Ohio, was confirmed 48-46.

Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman Ohio joined every Democrat in voting for Dettelbach. 

Dettelbach, 57, has advocated for reinstating the assault weapons ban and universal background checks on firearms purchases.

After running an unsuccessful campaign to serve as attorney general in Ohio in 2018, he worked in the private sector for BakerHostetler.

Dettelbach is President Biden’s second choice to lead the ATF. Biden’s first pick, David Chipman, couldn’t get enough votes in the Senate for confirmation last year. 

By Steve Neavling

A Senate committee on Thursday was deadlocked on whether to advance President Biden’s pick to lead the ATF.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-11 along party lines. 

Democrats will have a chance to advance Steven Dettelbach to the floor with a procedural maneuver.  

The ATF has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since 2015. 

“Gun violence continues to plague this country and I believe that it’s critical that ATF has a strong, Senate-confirmed leader in place to ensure the agency is able to achieve its mission of protecting our communities from both violent criminals as well as the illegal use of firearms,” Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., said during the hearing.  

Biden’s first pick to lead the ATF, David Chipman, couldn’t get enough votes in the Senate for confirmation last year. 

Dettelbach was confirmed by the Senate to serve as attorney for the U.S. District Court in Northern Ohio, a position he held from 2009 to 2016.

Dettelbach has advocated for reinstating the assault weapons ban and universal background checks on firearms purchases.

Dettelbach, who ran an unsuccessful campaign to serve as attorney general in Ohio in 2018, has been working in the private sector for BakerHostetler.

By Steve Neavling

Steven Dettelbach, President Biden’s pick to lead the ATF, has been endorsed by eight former directors and acting leaders as the U.S. Senate prepares to hold confirmation hearings on the nomination. 

The former leaders, who were previously appointed by Republican and Democratic administrations, made the endorsement in a letter obtained by USA Today.

The ATF has been without a permanent leader since ATF Director B. Todd Jones led the agency from 2011 to 2015. 

Jones was among the former directors who endorsed Dettelbach. 

“The single and most logical person to question and to hold accountable both on the policy front and the everyday execution of existing laws would be the Director of ATF,” the officials said. “Without a Director there is no one to hold accountable.”

Biden’s first pick to lead the ATF, David Chipman, couldn’t get enough votes in the Senate for confirmation last year. 

It’s too early to say whether Dettelbach will have an easier time getting confirmed. He was confirmed by the Senate to serve as attorney for the U.S. District Court in Northern Ohio, a position he held from 2009 to 2016. 

Chipman came under fire for his support of firearm restrictions, including a ban on assault weapons. He’s also a former adviser at the Giffords, a gun control group. 

Dettelbach has advocated for reinstating the assault weapons ban and universal background checks on firearms purchases.

By Steve Neavling

President Biden will pick Gary M. Restaino, the top prosecutor in Arizona, to serve as interim director of the ATF until a permanent one is confirmed, the Associated Press reports.

Biden’s administration is removing the ATF’s acting director, Marvin G. Richardson, who has been accused by gun advocates of cozying up to the gun industry.

Richardson will remain at the agency and advise Restaino, the AP reported.  

The move comes about a week after Biden announced he was nominating Steven Dettelbach, a former U.S. attorney, to serve as the permanent director.

Biden’s first pick to lead the ATF, David Chipman, couldn’t get enough votes in the Senate for confirmation last year. 

By Steve Neavling

President Biden on Monday nominated Steven Dettelbach, a former Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney, to lead the ATF. 

The nomination came on the same day that Biden’s administration announced a crackdown on ghost guns. 

Biden’s first pick to lead the ATF, David Chipman, couldn’t get enough votes in the Senate for confirmation last year. 

It’s too early to say whether Dettelbach will have an easier time getting confirmed. He was confirmed by the Senate to serve as attorney for the U.S. District Court in Northern Ohio, a position he held from 2009 to 2016. 

Chipman came under fire for his support of firearm restrictions, including a ban on assault weapons. He’s also a former adviser at the Giffords, a gun control group. 

Dettelbach has advocated for reinstating the assault weapons ban and universal background checks on firearms purchases.

“Steve is immensely qualified,” Biden said Monday.

“Steve also partnered with the community leaders and law enforcement to help prevent violent crime. He’s worked with the police to combat domestic extremism and to take violent criminals off the street. Steve’s record makes him ready on day one to lead this agency.”

Dettelbach praised the work of the ATF. 

“I’ve seen firsthand the work that so many at the ATF do to protect us from violence,” he said. “They’re dedicated, they’re professional, and they’re effective.  They don’t write the laws; their mission every day is just to go out and enforce those laws and protect the public from a wide range of threats.” 

Dettelbach said the ATF plays an important role in protecting communities at a time when gun violence is out of control. 

“As we emerge from this pandemic, we’ve got to recognize that many Americans still face fear and isolation not because of a virus, but because of an epidemic of firearms violence,” Dettelbach said. “It’s not a new problem, and it has many causes. That’s why it’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck-partnership approach to address that issue. And the ATF will be there.”

Dettelbach, who ran an unsuccessful campaign to serve as attorney general in Ohio in 2018, has been working in the private sector for BakerHostetler.

Dettelbach is married with two children. 

The ATF’s acting director, Marvin G. Richardson, has been accused by gun control advocates of cozying up to the gun industry.