Obama to nominate Jones as head of ATF

(AP) Obama to nominate Jones as head of ATF
By AMY FORLITI
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS
A federal prosecutor who worked to get the most violent criminals off the streets is expected to be named director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

President Barack Obama says he intends to nominate B. Todd Jones to lead the ATF, which hasn’t had a permanent director since 2006.

Jones is U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and has been ATF’s acting director since late 2011. He took over amid controversy over an anti-gun smuggling operation. In his first weeks on the job, he, quote, “hit the reset button,” assembling a law enforcement team to get the ATF back to fighting violent crime.

Jones’ nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa says the Judiciary Committee will give Jones a hard look.