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 ...
Could they sue the U.S. government later?
A bit of good news.
Very good news to the agents themselves, of course.
I would like their right to carry firearms to not be infringed. Lotta crazies out there.
Eight years too late - Clinton already did that in 2001.
That's what the objections to Eric Holder's appointment as AG is all about.
Guidelines and recommendations were not followed as Clinton granted clemency to 12 members of the F.A.L.N., a domestic terrorist group tha carried out 150 bombings in the USA from 1974 to 1983.
Clinton's action was opposed by the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the National Association of Police Organizations and Justice Department officials. The House of Representatives condemned Clinton’s action 311 to 41. By a vote of 95 to 5 the Senate passed a resolution calling the decision "deplorable."
But the President has the authority to grant a pardon to anyone and this power has been upheld by SCOTUS.
Bush's reasons for not granting full pardons to Ramos and Compean are Bovine Excretment.
But at least he finally found the guts to do something on their behalf.
Local talk radio KSEV in Houston will take care of the job issue. They have been the fiercest advocates for Ramos & Compean.
As I state on another thread....
Slick Willie Clinton pardon worse criminals. Bush Could have done the same... at least they will be free... finally
may i remind you of slick willie clinton and his flurry of pardons at the end of his term... i am sure it has already been done... :)
“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 don’t know if you are being sarcastic or not, but Laura Ingraham read on her show a list of people W has pardoned so far and there were a ton of drugdealing scumbag sounding people in her story.
The president can pardon anyone. To say they could not be pardoned (not eligible) would be placing limits on the presidency.
Second, why did he have to wait so long if he was actually going to do this? It’s not like he had to consider re-election.
Hopefully the commutation was for the rest of their time they still had to serve.
No kidding.
“Warden, this is President Bush. How ya doin’ buddy?
Say listen, we’ll be sending some formal paperwork your way, just so your butt is covered, but in the meantime, I need you to get Compean and Ramos expedited through your release process today. Thanks ol top! I’ll invite you to the ranch for a barbecue soon. Talk to ya later.”
Would be done and done.
Bush surprised me!
This is good news....but Ramos and Compean should have been PARDONED...they did not commit a crime.
In fact, they did not “cover up” anything....contrary to the reports in the media (including Fox News), and contrary to some of the posters here on FR.
Having read much of the documentation (which surprisingly (sarc) were withheld so long by the Feds)....Ramos and Compean’s supervisors were there on the scene right after the shooting....and told Ramos/Compean to pick up their shells....so their superiors knew about the incident. There was no cover up by Ramos and Compean.
By refusing to pardon the two, Bush still is taking the word of an illegal alien drug dealer (who continued to bring in drugs to the USA while under his immunity deal) over the word of two respectable Border Patrol agents. This is more “valuing the rights of illegal aliens over the rights of American citizens” anti-American bigotry.
I am glad that Ramos and Compean will now be able to join their families....but they should not have to wait TWO MONTHS for that freedom.
And, by refusing to pardon the two....they will be unable to pursue their careers in law enforcement. Hopefully someone will hire them...and hopefully the two will write books and make the talk/news show circuit so they can make some money.
Also, by refusing to pardon the two....they can still appeal their convictions in the courts....and still ask the new President to pardon them
Yes, indeed. Libby and Ramos, Compean should have received pardons.
Compean or Campean!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Campeon according to legal documents on the web.
I had given up hope. Thank god, something to be grateful for this week. Can’t wait to hear John & Ken on KFI today!
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean
Compean is the correct spelling....a lot of the media (esp Fox News) have been spelling it wrong. Of course, they have been covering the story inaccurately, too...so no surprise they cannot properly spell the name
I guess they would have a biggger problem with Oswaldo Aldrete-Davila (the illegal alien drug dealer who got the two convicted)....either with the spelling, or, that the media would have to say something bad about an illegal alien
Sarcasm, right?
der Schlickmeister already covered all these. That's how you go from $5 million in debt to over $125 million in the bank (not counting off-shore accounts).
‘bout bloody time.. But better late than never...
I agree with the person who said Bush did it this way to protect the system against abuses by future Clintons and Obamas. That’s the reason he has done most things we disagree with.
If I understand correctly, they will not be permitted to have a gun. IIRC, Mark Fuhrman said on FOX that he can't have one.
Maybe someone who knows the law could clear this up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.