WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today made the following statement on the nomination of Minnesota U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones as Director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Mr. Jones currently serves as Acting ATF Director. Klobuchar previously served as Hennepin County Attorney, the chief prosecutor for Minnesota’s largest county.

“I first worked with Todd Jones starting in 1999 when I was Hennepin County Attorney while he was U.S. Attorney.  As Senator I recommended him to the President to be U.S. Attorney in 2007.

In both cases I have found Todd to be a seasoned, highly-respected law enforcement leader.  As a former Marine he is fair-minded and has impeccable character.  He has a strong record of working productively with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. He has brought incredible focus, results, and integrity to each leadership position he has held, including as Acting Director of the ATF.

As County Attorney I especially appreciated the respect Todd had for our local prosecutors.  We approached cases as a team.  Prosecutors and law enforcement officers must be as sophisticated as the crooks that are breaking the law.  Todd Jones gets that.

ATF needs a permanent leader and Todd Jones is an excellent choice.”

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