Report: ATF guns killed Arizona border agent

PHOENIX - An investigative report will be released at a Congressional Hearing on Wednesday criticizing a federal government program that let thousands of U.S. guns cross into Mexico.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee began looking at "Operation Fast and Furious" after a border patrol agent was gunned down by weapons tied to the program.

In December, agent Brian Terry was killed in southern Arizona by drug cartel members. His family is also expected to testify at the hearing.

Operation Fast and Furious was set up by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in order to track firearms sold to "straw purchasers" and connect them to high-level cartel members.

However, the federal investigation accuses the ATF of failing to monitor those guns and letting thousands of firearms cross unchecked into Mexico.

The investigation has been spearheaded by Rep. Darren Issa, R-California.

He has blamed the ATF, U.S. Attorney's Office and Department of Justice for helping spread violence across the border because of the failed operation.