Posted on 07/17/2007 7:55:33 AM PDT by 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.
..I said it could be ruined—if he were wrong—but he isn’t...
Oh, okay. Yeah, I think he is on the right side here. At least he has put more effort into fact finding than anyone else.
No problem with the truth, but I believe the sentences are excessive.
HEAD’S UP!
Duncan Hunter coming up (in just a bit) on Glenn Beck to discuss Agents Ramos and Compean.
Thanks, got my radio on!
Calpernia, I’m listening to Glenn Beck right now. At the opening of his show, he said Duncan Hunter was going to be on.
Ha!! Thanks for the ping! You beat me to it! LOL!!
Thanks for the ping
Hunter on NEXT!
I hope someone is RECORDING this....DUmmies at KTOK just cut Hunter interview off.
Now they break in again for a “special report”...KTOK is crap!
Looks like the headline was fixed.
>>”I wish I could find a link to the transcripts”
Here you go:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1784408/posts
If you read them all, along with the OIG report, you will find that they most certainly did not intentionally shoot an unarmed man in the back, as the US Attorney Johnny Sutton continues to claim.
Both said they fired only when they saw a gun and since the Perp escaped to Mexico, there is no way to demonstrate that he was armed or unarmed. He was shot from the side, in the butt—not in the back. The agents fired in self defense according to their testimony. The only one testifying otherwise was the cartel drug runner.
Thanks for the link. I really hacks me off that nobody in the mainstream press will get the truth out on this (no surprise there). I’m thankful that at least Glenn Beck has been following this and pushing for the pardon of both agents. He had Sutton on for a full hour interview and the guy was slipperier than a greased weasel. Something stinks to high heaven as regards to Sutton, Mexico, and the Bush White House.
If you are interested, watch the hearing testimony. Particularly, Ramos’s appellate attorney, David Botsford. He just rips into Sutton and his prosecution team, the flaws by the court, etc. Botsford testimony starts at the 1:13 marker.
http://judiciary.senate.gov/webcast/judiciary07172007-1000.ram
I heard Sean Hannity saying today that Duncan Hunter (and a few others) was fighting hard for Agents Ramos and Compean, which is good since Hannity agrees, and he has the No. 2 talk show.
Ping
They don’t that I know of.
Were we suppose to know about this?
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