[Clinging Bitterly]

True - the fleeing drug smuggler was not a threat to them and shooting him was not within the allowed forms of engagement for that particular set of circumstances - which is precisely why they chose to not correctly document the event. The first act may well have been dismissed as error, but the second act is a crime, and it is just that they remain convicted.

All of that being said, I wouldn't have objected to a jury pardon in their case, given only what I know about it.

[Ramius]

Had a jury not convicted them, yes of course I’d have had no problem with that.

Where I part with some conservative brethren is that from what I’ve seen these guys did probably push too far. I’ll stand behind cops and federal officers that simply make mistakes. But when they don’t own up to a mistake and cover it up... I also don’t blame a jury for looking down on that. These guys were a party to their fate.

But that said, I think the sentence was too much for the crime. I’m glad that Bush commuted the sentence. I think it was the right answer.

IMHO