Day 2: Lou Dobbs Transcript: Border Betrayal (Ramos Court Appearance)

DOBBS: And a major setback for one -- for both of the former border patrol agents who are at the center of an outrageous, miscarriage of justice. That story is next. # # Well a judge today refused to overturn Ignacio Ramos' most serious charge in the federal court hearing. This comes even as the appellate court threw out some of his other convictions. Casey Wian has our report from El Paso, Texas.

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Former border patrol agent Ignacio Ramos acknowledges supporters as he arrives for re- sentencing at an El Paso, Texas federal court. He has served nearly two years of an 11-year sentence, for shooting and wounding an illegal alien drug smuggler in 2005. This summer, a federal appeals court overturned two of his six convictions, but the court upheld the most serious charge of using a gun to commit a crime, which carries a 10-year mandatory minimum term. Attorney David Botsford asked the lower court for a reduction in the remainder of Ramos' sentence, based on the fact that a week after he reported to prison he was beaten by suspected illegal alien inmates. He's been in protective custody, solitary confinement, 23 hours a day, ever since.

DAVID BOTSFORD, ATTORNEY FOR IGNACIO RAMOS: Eight and a half, nine years in solitary confinement is pretty close to cruel and unusual punishment. As I articulated to the judge the conditions under which he's currently forced to endure are more onerous and less beneficial than those foreign detainees being held down in Guantanamo Bay.

WIAN: Judge Kathleen Cardone (ph) refused to reduce his sentence, but did agree to write a letter to the Bureau of Prisons, asking that Ramos be transferred to a minimum-security prison, where illegal aliens are not permitted.

That decision is entirely up to the Bureau of Prisons.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Given that there's been another setback, what gives you hope now?

MONICA RAMOS, WIFE OF IGNACIO RAMOS: The commutation. It's something that we have already filed. And we're in hopes with the change in administration, maybe Bush on his way out or Obama coming in, that we will, we'll have some sort of victory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was willing to do that.

WIAN: The previous night supporters held a candlelight vigil for Ramos and former fellow agent, Jose Compean, whose 12-year term was also upheld a day earlier by the same judge.

T.J. BONNER, PRES., NAT'L BORDER PATROL COUNCIL: The president of the United States holds it within his power with the stroke of a pen to commute the sentence of these two agents.

WIAN: But for now the agents return to prison with a longer sentence than the now imprisoned illegal alien drug smuggler they tried to apprehend.

(on camera): LOU DOBBS TONIGHT has learned the law firm Bracewell and Giuliani (ph), as in former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani, has volunteered to work on the agent's computation effort. As Compean's attorney says, they know their way around Washington -- Lou?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: Casey, thank you. Casey Wian reporting from El Paso. We will of course continue to bring you the latest developments on this outrageous miscarriage of justice against those two former border patrol agents.

DOBBS (End of program): Let's take a look at some of your thoughts now. Kyle in Oregon: "Lou, thank you for keeping America updated on the Ramos and Compean cases. It seems like no one else is willing to touch the subject, but you've taken it head on." Unfortunately, to no avail.

## END ##

The Houston based law firm of Bracewell & Giuliani - previously Bracewell & Patterson - pro bono involvement is a significant event. They are a 63 year old law firm and their new involvement did not happen by accident as there are many “power Republicans” in Texas that are very upset over this situation and with both Bush and Sutton personally. Hopefully "a certain someone" will have something to publicly share at a later date. FYI, Cardone is in bed with Bush and Sutton on this travesty.

Will try to find Wed. and Thu videos and post links. Will also check the support sites. God Bless

MAR/TAB

Please write and call the White House and request President Bush pardon Ramos and Compean. This is an absolute TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. These men were defending our country. They should not be left to rot in jail for eleven years. They’ve suffered enough and so have their families.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone Numbers:

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

The key to defeating Sutton is to understand what he’s claiming.

He said that there was no weapon mentioned until after the trial. (Hannity seemed to indicate that Sutton didn’t believe them.)

Another thing I remember is that he said the agents asked for the smuggler to testify.

Hannity seemed to think these men are convicted because of the prosecutor’s desire to get a “win” no matter what.

Also, the spirit of the “weapon in the commission of a crime” law, doesn’t apply in this case. First, law enforcement officials are armed. Second, the crime envisioned was an offense against law-abiding citizenry.

Anyone remember anything else he said.

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