Hunter will go to hearing ["Fight" for full pardon for border patrol agents (Duncan Hunter)]

Official Release from Hunter for President, Inc. ^ | July 17, 2007 | Hunter for President, Inc.

[Calpernia]

(Washington, D.C.)...United States Congressman Duncan Hunter continues his pursuit of justice in the case of two border patrol agents that have been imprisoned. Hunter will attend and will testify for former agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean at a hearing to be held in Washington D.C.

The agents allegedly shot a fleeing drug smuggler in the buttocks. They were subsequently given sentences of 11 and 12 years in prison, while federal prosecutors granted the drug smuggler immunity to return to the United States and testify against the law enforcement officers. Hunter exclaimed:

"The circumstances of this case have outraged many Americans concerned with the problems of illegal immigration and drug-running from Mexico. I have and will continue to call for a full pardon from the President in this case."

In February 2005, the agents tried to stop a van driven by alleged drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila near the Mexico border. After a scuffle with Compean, Aldrete-Davila fled on foot. Ramos says he believes that he saw a gun, which the smuggler denies. Both agents fired at Aldrete-Davila who fell, then continued his escape across the border. After he got away Ramos and Compean filed a report on the 743-pounds of marijuana they found in the van, but not on the gunfire. As it turns out, Ramos had shot Aldrete-Davila in the buttocks. A Homeland Security agent heard about the episode went to Mexico and offered Aldrete-Davila immunity, if he would testify against Ramos and Compean.

U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, a Bush appointee, prosecuted the agents.

In March, a jury found them guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, obstructing justice lying about the incident, and willfully violating Aldrete-Davila's Fourth Amendment right to be free from illegal seizure.

Because there was gunfire, the mandatory-minimum prison sentence the agents will serve is 10 years. The U.S. Probation Office in El Paso, Texas had recommended 20 years for each of the two agents.

Aldrete-Davila, who faces no charges, is believed to be considering a civil suit against the agents and the United States Government. It is believed that he will seek $5M for the violation of his civil rights.

Hunter's congressional district is in southern California near the border with Mexico. He has led the Congressional campaign for border security joined by dozens of his fellow members, and several activist groups, in calling for a full pardon for the duo.

White House spokesperson Tony Snow recently said he wanted "cooler heads" to prevail and "facts" to be presented in the flaring dispute over the sentences imposed on the two former agents.

Following a failed request, lead by Hunter, to keep Compean and Ramos free on bail pending their appeal, the former agents surrendered to federal custody on January 17, 2007. Hunter noted "The very day they surrendered to federal custody, I recommended that agents Compean and Ramos be segregated and was assured they would be removed from the general population and close attention was being paid to their personal safety. The attack against agent Ramos indicates concerns for his personal safety and protection were ignored."

Hunter sent a letter to the President asking for an investigation into the attack against agent Ramos. The letter also requested the discharge that Bureau of Prisons Director Harley Lappin if facts show him to be derelict in his administration of his duties.

Hunter, the only Republican Presidential Candidate expected to attend the upcoming hearing, has been in the forefront on the immigration issue.

He has led the way for tight border security and for extraditing the immigrants who are in this country illegally.

[Bitsy]

Gotta respect this man ... Someone good and right from CALIFORNIA ... there are a few of us here amongst the fruits and nuts. :-)

God bless you! I don’t know if my stomach is strong enough to live amongst the fruits and nuts. All the power to you.

[cripplecreek]

I agree about the human rights. Don’t kill or torture them, give them the basic human needs but send them home.

Interestingly enough, Duncan Hunter’s brother John is part of a group that leaves water for illegals in the desert. I’m not thrilled about it but I don’t want them to die either. After all, they aren’t coming for the water, they’re mostly coming for jobs offered by unscrupulous employers.

[Kimberly GG]

“Sutton has a propensity for prosecuting law enforcement for excessive force when illegals are involved.”

And rewarded for doing so. I believe this ‘reward’, to Chair, no less, came just 20 days after the R & C conviction.

http://www.texaslyceum.org/news_view.aspx?ArticleId=18

[Calpernia]

Related:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1863953/posts
Senate Hearing On Ramos and Compean 7/17/07

[Kimberly GG]

This hearing is going on right now....but not on CSPAN or CSPAN2. Is it closed or just not getting coverage?

[CAluvdubya]

Ramos and Compean AND Hunter ping!

I'm sitting here watching Townsend tell us that we can't let our guard down with respect to a US soil attack from terrorists but we are prosecuting OUR Border Patrol Agents! Oh I feel sooooo much safer!! (/s)

[Marauder]

The whole thing smells.

You're right; Sutton is another rogue prosecutor, along with Ronnie Earle, Mike Nifong, and Patrick Kennedy who seek national exposure via predatory misconduct. They apparently misjudged the type of exposure they wanted, unless what they're after is the liberal democRat vote in future political campaigns. Dimlibs love his kind of brass.

This guy should be fired.

[dynachrome]

Hunter/Tancredo 2008.

[Terabitten]

Since when do wetbacks have civil rights?

The instant they cross the border. The Constitution guarantees rights to "people," not "citizens."

[A. Patriot]

Isn't there also going to be a hearing on the role that the MEXICAN GOVERNMENT had in prosecution of this case?

[Calpernia]

I don’t know :(

[Calpernia]

bump!

[Pablo64]

I wish I could find a link to the transcripts, but Glenn Beck has covered this extensively on his radio program and on tv. The drug dealer's mom has some connection to high up within the Border Patrol (if I recall correctly) and she is the one who called and complained to someone that her "dear, sweet, innocent little boy was shot by the nasty, corrupt, racist (even though they are latino) Border Patrol agents. We sent someone from Homeland Security down into Mexico to interview the scumbag and gave him immunity to come and testify.

Compound that with a prosecutor (Johny Sutton) who believes the word of a drug dealer over that of our own sworn agents, and things really start to get suspicious. So much of this case stinks to high heaven and of course the media is only reporting on the parts that make the agents look guilty. It's a mess, and it seems like there is something really fishy with Sutton, the Bush White House, and Mexico.

[Calpernia]

THAT would be great!

bump

[Fitzcarraldo]

then let’s indict everyone in the Border Patrol who has covered up, been derelict in duty, etc. this goes all the way to the top. these two are scapegoats.

[sourcery]

The confusion between civil rights and human rights is the root cause of many problems. The Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s was fundamentally about the “right” (civil privilege) to vote. Many today think it was about human rights.

[RasterMaster]

Hunter/Tancredo 2008

Ditto! The ONLY two candidates I can support! The rest are WEAK on immigration.

[RasterMaster]

FAIR & EQUITABLE TRADE	Fair Trade, Not Free Trade = Jobs China Cheating  on Trade
SECOND AMENDMENT	Glen & Helen Show
ECONOMY & TAXES	Address to Fair Tax Rally 05-15-07 Address to CPAC
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD	Iraq Resolution / Hunter vs. Democrats / Surge is Working Senate Amnesty Bill
LEGAL REFORM	Gonzales Firings / Pardon Scooter? Border Agents Compean & Ramos ”Fairness” Doctrine
ENDORSEMENTS	Appeal to Conservatives / General Chuck Yeager Ann Coulter / Magnificent! / Favorite Announcement – Part 1 & Part 2 On the Road to the Oval Office / The Conservative Case A Fresh Face / Blog Collection / Constitution Party
EDUCATION	No Child Left Behind
HEALTHCARE	Ronald Reagan on Health Care ‘National’ Health Care / “One step closer to socialism”
IMMIGRATION	Border Enforcement is Homeland Security / NAFTA Building a Fence / “Jobs Americans won’t do”? Enforce the Law / No Amnesty / Party of One / Ted Hayes
SAFETY & SECURITY	Cooking with Hunter / War On Terror / To America’s Critics Mark Steyn on 1986 Amnesty / Firefighter’s Forum
FAITH & VALUES	Blogs for Life / Judicial Appointments / Right to Life Rally Terri Shaivo / Mt. Soledad Cross / Roe vs. Wade / Hate Crimes
INTERVIEWS	Dennis Miller (June 1st – 3rd Hour) Roger Hedgecock 07-02-07 (4th Hour) Steve Malzberg 06-19-07 Laura Ingraham – Part 1 & Part 2 Brian Preston – Hot Air / William Gheen - ALIPAC WRKO Pundit Review Radio / Polipundit Radio Kevin McCullough – Musclehead Revolution NHPR’s Laura Knoy on The Exchange / Irving Baxter WESH – Orlando (Conversation with the Candidate) Hardball - Al Sharpton / George Stephanopolis / Wolf Blitzer Charlie Rangel – Part 1 & Part 2 Glenn Beck / JD Hayworth 1 & 2
DEBATES	Reagan Library 05-03-07 / Fox Interview South Carolina 05-15-07 New Hampshire 06-05-07 / Spin Room - NH Iowa Presidential Candidate Forum 06-30-07
POLLS	Hunter Beats McCain

 

[davidlachnicht]

[Old_Mil]

Has Fred Thompson weighed in on this issue?