Posted on 02/06/2007 6:18:29 PM PST by calcowgirl
A Department of Homeland Security official admitted today the agency misled Congress when it contended it possessed investigative reports proving Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean confessed guilt and declared they "wanted to shoot some Mexicans" prior to the incident that led to their imprisonment.
The admission came during the testimony of DHS Inspector General Richard L. Skinner before the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, according to Michael Green, press secretary for Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas.
Culberson was questioning Skinner about a meeting DHS officials had Sept. 26 with him and three other Republican congressman from Texas, Reps. Ted Poe, Michael McCaul and Kenny Marchant.
WND previously reported that at that meeting the DHS Inspector General's office asserted it had documentary evidence Ramos and Compean:
2. stated during the interrogation they did not believe the suspect was a threat to them at the time of the shooting;
3. stated that day they "wanted to shoot a Mexican";
4. were belligerent to investigators;
5. destroyed evidence and lied to investigators.
This prompted a startled and angry response from the congressman.
"You lied to me and you lied to all of us," Culberson charged. "Your office tried to paint a picture of Ramos and Compean as dirty cops, and now you come before this committee and tell us you never had the information to back up those claims."
Ramos and Compean began prison sentences last month after their actions in the shooting of a drug smuggler who was granted immunity to testify against them.
Responding to Skinner's testimony yesterday, Poe said it "explains why DHS has been stonewalling Congress."
"DHS didn't turn over the reports to us to back up their September 26 accusations for one simple reason – the reports never existed," the Texas congressman said.
"Why did it take DHS four months to admit their error?" he asked. "I wonder how much more has DHS told the public and Congress about Ramos and Compean that simply isn't true?"
Poe said he's determined to get to the bottom of DHS's claim.
"I expect this new revelation will lead to a lot more questions before we're done," he said.
Andy Ramirez, who has been involved with the case as chairman of Friends of the Border Patrol, told WND the DHS's actions "represent obstruction of justice, and they should be held in contempt of Congress, and, if possible, prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
"This admission today is yet more proof of how they are willing to distort the facts, as I have charged all along, in order to ensure a conviction," he said.
The dorms are apparently common to low risk prisons. It wasn't clear why they didn't segregate Ramos from the general population. And Compean was said to have been in isolation since he's been jailed. There was no explanation for why they are being treated differently, other than that they are in different prisons.
You are correct. I do think 2.5 months is somewhat long to get the transcript in the Western District for the length of the trial and the number of hearings.
I guess you could request something all day long, but if it doesn't exist yet, you can't get a copy of it. It's up to some court reporter to do it, the fee is paid by the party appealing. Why would the state or USA pay for it, they're not appealing the verdict. They'll get it when it's done. I bet they could get a CD of the proceedings from day one and have to listen to it, and then transcribe it themselves. It wouldn't be certified though. Imagine having to listen to weeks of proceedings and then type them up, it would take some time. And not just in any format either. It is very detailed as to how transcripts are prepared, I know, my Mom had to get one done of her divorce proceeding and it took 2 months to get it, and it was only 3 days of testimony.
Agreed.
Therein lies the problem. It's "he said", "she said", "someone else claimed that", "if true...", "according to sources....", yata yata yata. The operator game is alive and well right here on FR. It's human nature, of course, but not always helpful when one is trying to keep an open mind, search for the facts and come to a reasonable opinion on the subject. I do hope that justice has been served, and if not, that it will be served.
"The fate of the world does not rest with these two and there are far more egregious cases of so-called injustice to get upset about anyways."
Then why do you give us so much of your wit and wisdom on this affair? Why not move on to those cases of REAL "so-called injustice" (whatever that means).
The union lawyers I have experienced did not impress me at all. I have suspected all along that these agents didn't get good representation.
If those who are claiming to know about transcripts and how long it takes to get them are correct, apparently it is possible that the transcripts aren't done yet. Doesn't make sense to me, but I'm not an expert on the subject.
I hate laysuits, but I hope when this is over, these two agents sue the federal government, the crooked prosecutor and the warden for all they're worth. This whole thing is a disgrace.
I believe it was intentional, to send a message loud and clear, the message this president been sending since the day he stepped into the White House - Keep Your Hands Off My Open Borders!
I'm not sure what you mean by "low-risk" prisons. Do you mean "low-security?" That's mysterious, considering that the judge wouldn't allow them out of prison while their cases are appealed, on the grounds that they are "flight risks."
Lou Dobbs was really on this story this evening. He was pissed.
Yea, yea, yea....and, and, and....President Bush probably also hired some thugs to beat up Ramos and then pay the thugs with oil that he stole from Iraq! psssst....pass it on.
I agree with you. When the Minutemen first started the top BP guy, or maybe the top BP Union guy, called them vigilantes. Later Bush parroted that phrase. At that time I felt there was someone in the BP or the union with an agenda that was contrary to our best interest and they were the ones feeding information to Bush.
My character is just fine. I refuse to swallow every morsel or rumor and innuendo that comes out every day on this subject. I also had a hard time believing the stories that Ramos and Compean put out at trial. Nice to meet you as well. Live long and prosper.
I'm not sure they can sue. The government is immune from lots of things we peons are vulnerable to. There is a doctrine limiting liability of the government, which traces back to the concept that the king is above the law. There's a Latin phrase for it which eludes me at the moment.
Wow, if Dobbs is upset and really "on this story", then perhaps it'd be wise to ask, "why?" Something to think about.
Oh my.....Ramos definitely needs a new attorney. Why the heck didn't she hoof it the prison? They can't refuse her access to her client. Lack of funds for an airline ticket, I guess....
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.