Posted on 01/19/2009 10:30:12 AM PST by patriot08
WASHINGTON – In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.
Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting, was welcomed by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. They had long argued that the agents were merely doing their jobs, defending the American border against criminals. They also maintained that the more than 10-year prison sentences the pair was given were too harsh.
Rancor over their convictions, sentencing and firings has simmered ever since the shooting occurred in 2005.
Ramos and Compean became a rallying point among conservatives and on talk shows where their supporters called them heroes. Nearly the entire bipartisan congressional delegation from Texas and other lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle pleaded with Bush to grant them clemency.
Bush didn't pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive and that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations, a senior administration official said.
Compean and Ramos, who have served about two years of their sentences, are expected to be released from prison within the next two months.
They were convicted of shooting admitted drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks as he fled across the Rio Grande, away from an abandoned van load of marijuana. The border agents argued during their trials that they believed the smuggler was armed and that they shot him in self defense. .
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
already posted
YES!
Yeah and 'already posted' already posted too!
Now, what about Scooter Libby?
Pardons would have been better, but at least they can return to their families.
Pardons would have been better, but at least they can return to their families.
‘have their jobs restored ‘
Like hell. They employed lethal force, then tried to cover it up.
We cannot allow that from our LEO’s.
I support the commutation 100%. The sentences were ridiculous under the circumstances.
Just heard on the news that the “Agents are serving 10 years for shooting an unarmed illegal alien”.
Talk about selective fact reporting to suit your slant and biase.
Not enough. Should have been given a full pardon, and Johnny Sutton, the prosecuter, should be in jail.
SOme of us didn’t see the already posted....already posted
By this action the two are still convicted criminals. Felons. Ineligible to work in law enforcement, own firearms in most states, or vote in many states. This is not a pardon, it is the very least Bush could do short of doing nothing at all.
he already commuted his sentence years ago, but I doubt he will pardon him.
Thank you God for answering our prayers.
President Bush is a good and decent man. We are going to miss him.
“This is not a pardon, it is the very least Bush could do short of doing nothing at all.”
But that is typical of Bush.
I agree with you there.
The ILLEGAL ALIEN was caught on Texas soil with drugs, tried to flee and threatened the guards.
It is this coddling of Mexico and drug runners that have gotten us into this mess
“Now, what about Scooter Libby?”
The guy who was legal counsel to Marc Rich when he got a pardon from BJ Clinton? I think his commutation was more than enough.
unless you have ever had to make the decision to apply leathal force I don’t think that anyone has the right to second guess these guys...
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