Mike
I still want to know why the ATF was involved.
Because the "investigation" supposedly involved felony level illegal firearms. That's what the F stands for.
And why they lied,
Cause it's the ATF, if they told the truth it would be embarrasing.
and why they used poor tactics
Again because it's the ATF. Remember these are mostly failed FBI agents desperately trying to prove the FBI was wrong, and freqeuntly proving the FBI was right.