ATF's top lawyer, who oversaw overhaul of its firearms regulations, resigns

Robert Leider, the chief counsel at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the person overseeing the overhaul of the agency's firearms regulations, has announced his resignation from his role, according to CBS News. Leider was appointed to the position last year following the abrupt firing of the agency's former chief by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claimed without evidence that the bureau was targeting gun owners.

Prior to his appointment at the ATF, Leider clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and is expected to return to his previous role as a law professor at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. The ATF stated that Leider is expected to remain with the agency until the new year before resuming his teaching position in January.

Leider has been responsible for overseeing numerous firearm-related regulations, including one that would repeal a Biden-era rule broadening the definition of who is required to obtain a firearms dealer license and undergo a background check.

Brief written by urgent.news from CBS News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.