The Head Of The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives Bureau Is Resigning

Kenneth Melson, who had been serving as ATF's acting director, is one of three high level ATF officials to leave or be reassigned in wake of a botched program to trace weapons sold in Mexico. Also stepping down is Dennis Burke, U.S. attorney in Arizona. A federal prosecutor in Phoenix, Ariz., Emory Hurley, will now work on civil cases. Melson will be replaced by B. Todd Jones, now the U.S. attorney in Minnesota. Melson will become a senior adviser on forensic science at the Justice Department. The failed program at the heart of the controversy was known as "Fast and Furious." The government sold high powered weapons to gun runners to eventually trace them in the U.S. However, some of the weapons were eventually used to kill U.S. agents.