Obama administration fires BATF whistle-blower

Well, possibly the Obama administration thought that they had cover given that one of their political appointees has finally just resigned.  From Fox News:

A well-known whistle-blower in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed to FoxNews.com that he was fired this week, and he claims his complaints about Operation Fast and Furious played a role in his dismissal.  

Vince Cefalu said he was served his termination papers Tuesday in a Denny's parking lot in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. But he doesn't plan to go quietly. 

"It will be challenged," he said.  

Cefalu, who's served as an ATF special agent for 25 years, was first notified of the plan to fire him more than a year ago but had been on administrative leave until now. He said officials told him he was being canned for "lack of candor," in reference to a handful of statements he made in testimony in a separate court case.  

However, Cefalu has been outspoken against ATF practices for years and told FoxNews.com that his whistle-blowing on Fast and Furious "was the final straw." . . .

UPDATE: On October 24, 2012, Vince Cefalu's termination was delayed for at least 45 days.

Katie Pavlich at Townhall.com reports some good news for veteran Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agent Vince Cefalu, who was sacked in the parking lot of a Denny’s restaurant in California two weeks ago: his termination has been delayed for at least 45 days by order of the Merit Systems Protection Board, giving the Office of Special Counsel “an opportunity to investigate the circumstances surrounding his termination.” 

The ostensible reason for Cefalu’s termination was a “lack of candor” when testifying under subpoena about a case unrelated to the Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal.  . . .