we spoke to former assistant fbi director chris swecker, who authorizes thousands of dollars in paymentsnformants during his time at the bureau. >> they really are the lifeblood of these cases. you have to be able to get inside. you know, most people -- i'd rather have an informant i was paying then someone you have over the barrel and is getting a plea bargain some kind of consideration. >> in a statement of fox news, the fbi had atf wrote in part, "sources provide valuable information regarding criminal activity and national security matters in dealing with confidential sources, we adhere to all justice suburban guidelines." some of the money going toer informants is taxpayer money, prompting this investigation to bring the attention to the story, mike. >> mike: david, what about i informants breaking the law legally? >> yet.t this is how business is done. it's been this way legally on the books as far as 1980 is concerned. one law enforcement source told me that this is something that's been going on and it probably will, allow informants to break the law but with permission, accordin