Posted on 01/19/2009 10:18:33 AM PST by freespirited
President Bush commuted the prison sentences of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. ...
The agents were convicted of shooting at a fleeing drug smuggler and under an enhanced sentence guideline were ordered to spend more than a decade in prison..
WND reported just days ago that the action was under consideration.
That was when the Department of Justice had opened a file on their case, office of agency pardon attorney Ronald Rodgers said.
Rodgers spoke directly about the case by telephone with Stephen Eichler, J.D., executive director of Jim Gilchrist's Minuteman Project Inc..
Eichler initially called the DOJ pardon attorney's office to discuss the prospect of a presidential pardon for Ramos and Compean. The men remain confined to solitary confinement in federal prison serving 11- and 12- years respectively for a 2005 incident in which they fired on a drug smuggler as he fled back into Mexico after bringing 750 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. near Fabens, Texas.
"After speaking with a U.S. pardon attorney staff coordinator about the serious nature of this matter, my call was immediately put through to Mr. Rodgers himself," Eichler told WND in an e-mail.
"We had a very frank and open discussion regarding the plight of the two Border Patrol agents," Eichler said. "During the conversation, Rodgers mentioned that agents Ramos and Compean may be eligible for commutations of their sentences, though they are not now being considered for pardons."
Eichler said Rodgers "was very informative and courteous."
Rodgers said the former agents apparently were not eligible for a pardon, which would nullify the punishment. But they might be eligible for a commutation, which would result in a reduction of their sentences.
As WND reported Ramos and Compean began serving their prison sentences two years ago, Jan. 17, 2007.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
I'm just a dumb layman but this sounds like BS to me. The president can pardon anyone at anytime.
They may not have met suggested guidelines, but guidelines are not law.
Pardons would have been better, but it’s about damn time.
bttt
You’re right. I think what Rodgers meant was that they were not eligible to be recommended for a pardon by his office (whose advice the president almost always follows). The pardon office only recommends pardons for people who completed their sentences at least five years before.
Curious to hear Savage on this one.
I am sure Bush is operating on the principle that, if the guidelines are not followed, some future Democratic president might pardon drug traffickers, or terrorist bombers, or international swindlers.
I’ll take it.
Pardons would have been a much better resolution, but this will get them out and back to their families.
I wish them the best.
Well, this gets them out of jail, but now they’ll have to find jobs to support their families.
And it’s nonsense to say that they weren’t “eligible” for pardons. IF they were guilty of anything, it was foolishly trying to cover up when they were arrested and falsely charged by a kangaroo prosecutor. You can’t entirely blame them for that. They probably just weren’t smart or knowledgeable enough to say NOTHING until they got a lawyer.
This is much like Scooter Libby, who was NOT the leaker, plus there was never a crime in the first place because Valerie Plame was not covered by the statute in question. Fitz knew this, but gave immunity to the man he KNEW was the leaker so he could nail Libby on false testimony. And even that was probably accidental and based on the testimony of a questionable source.
Yet Bush refused to fully pardon Libby, even though he was nailed on a technicality by a politicized prosecutor, a corrupt judge, and a jury foreman who admittedly wanted to smear the Bush administration.
I am thankful these two are going to be ‘free at last’...
From Breitbart: “Compean and Ramos, who have served about two years of their sentences, are expected to be released from prison within the next two months.”
I’m happy for the commutation, but still another two months in prison???
“Rodgers said the former agents apparently were not eligible for a pardon, which would nullify the punishment.”
They’ve been ‘punished’ more than enough.
As to the commutation (in lieu of): FINALLY
Thank you President Bush
And if the guidelines are followed? Some future Democratic president might pardon drug traffickers, or terrorist bombers, or international swindlers.
This administration has tested my patience. So in that sense, I guess I am ready for the next one.
Me and the missus are really pleased about Ramos and Compean obtaining a commutation. A pardon would have been more just, but this news is a faint glimmer of light in the gathering darkness.
I had the same reaction. If it takes two months to “process” the commutation, our govt is even more incompetent than we suspect.
Congrats to these two men. Good luck in your future endeavors. Hey, write a book!
I am happy to hear that these good men will soon be home with their families because their sentences were commuted by President Bush. I would have preferred a full pardon. Remember that Nixon received a pardon from President Ford so the argument that they are not eligible is not consistent with past action to pardon before charges were even levied. Maybe a pardon can be requested after these men are home with their families and putting their broken lives back together.
No American President would ever do such a thing!
That “questionable source” being Tim Russert.
Bastard.
everyplace has it different? how hard is it to spell a name?
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