Buckeye Reporter

Marianna Mitchem, who previously served as associate assistant director of field operations (industry operations) at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has joined Everytown for Gun Safety. This information comes from a former ATF senior official who requested anonymity.

According to the former official, Mitchem is now contacting her previous colleagues at ATF with a focus on targeting Glock and similar handguns. Mitchem began her career at ATF in 2005 as an Industry Operations Investigator, responsible for inspecting gun shops’ records and inventory. She was not an armed Special Agent.

Mitchem advanced through several roles within the agency, including field supervisor in 2011 and head of Industry Operations for the Phoenix Field Division by 2014. In 2017, she moved to Washington D.C., taking on positions such as deputy chief of Field Management Staff and later chief. By 2019, she became deputy chief of staff and reported directly to the ATF’s director. Her final role was Associate Assistant Director of Field Operations (Industry Operations), which she held from March 2024 until her departure in May 2025.

The former colleague described Mitchem as intelligent and effective in communication but noted that she had strong anti-gun views. The official stated that after Steve Dettelbach was appointed as ATF director by President Joe Biden, Mitchem received more responsibilities and played a key role in policy changes related to firearm frames or receivers and “ghost guns.”

“She was his ‘superstar,’ and was responsible for ATF’s frame or receiver ruling and for going after ‘ghost guns,’” said the former official.

The same source criticized actions taken under Mitchem’s leadership regarding un-serialized firearms. The agency reportedly included pre-1968 firearms—which were not required to have serial numbers—on its “ghost gun” list, along with homemade firearms from states where serial numbers are not mandated. Additionally, if law enforcement could not locate a serial number on a firearm, it would still be added to the list without further verification.

This practice led some within ATF and other agencies to question the accuracy of their database. Despite these concerns, the Biden Administration relied heavily on this list when promoting its gun control initiatives.

Attempts to reach Mitchem were unsuccessful; her cell phone has been disconnected, and messages sent to Everytown went unanswered.

“Things changed for Mitchem when former President Joe Biden appointed Steve Dettelbach to run ATF,” said the former official. “Mitchem was given more duties and responsibilities.”

“Dettelbach’s puppet,” is how the source described her involvement during that period.

Lee Williams is chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation's Investigative Journalism Project. Republished with permission.