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.
Flight risks? Source, please.
I've read the judge's Orders denying the agents' motions to remain free on bond until Appeal. It says no such thing.
Check out the Innocence Project. What am I doing??? Well I'm arguing on the internet of course. That should solve what ails the world.
Which case are you referring to? I've read the judges order, and it didn't say anything about flight risk.
Makes all kinds of sense to me. Our government wants illegals here.
Yep... he was. He was going through a messy divorce and allegations were made by his wife and her father. All charges were dropped. He was never prosecuted nor found guilty of anything. Your point is?
They also know he was disciplined for conduct unbecoming a federal officer.
Source? Never heard that one.
Arnold's office issued a statement recently that so many prisoners were going to be shipped out of state.
Sadly, the Border Patrol guys were 2 of the people - and this took them totally away from their families.
Well I doubt Dog and his family found it funny if it was a joke. I'm sure some Mexican judges hands got greased and it's all on its way to being swept under the rug, but, who knows.
Those elected officials also have the power to appoint other officials to key positions in our immigration system. Try googling USCIS and other immigration agencies and see what you find as to who is heading them up now, appointed by THIS administration...
If they survive?
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/02/06/D8N4E48O0.html
My sentiments exactly!
That was a fine sentiment : )
This whole thing is a giant FU from Pres. Bush to those who believe in secure borders.
Maybe Hillary will pardon them after she gets elected.
Remember the ongoing case of the "suicide" of Kenneth Trentadue and his brother's federal court efforts to get facts?
A DOJ/OIG investigation said
"The correctional officers who discovered [the prisoner] hanging in his cell responded in a timely fashion. Within seconds, several [correctional officers] arrived at his cell and were poised to enter. [but] Unfortunately they did not do so." An estimated ten minutes passed before the body was taken down. They should have "attempted to revive him," but.. well, golly gee. You see, the Lieutenant on duty wanted video and photos first.
The body moved to the infirmary and paramedics called, they noted that the prisoner’s head was bloody, with trauma to his forehead.
A medical examiner who came to take the body recalled that "she had never seen a hanging accompanied by a cut neck and head trauma, and she became concerned about the cause of Trentadue’s death. She examined the death scene (cell)."
She was the only outsider to see the blood-splattered (floor, walls, bed, sink) cell. The cell was cleaned up immediately. [Why? It was falsely reported by prison employees that the prisoner had HIV so, golly gee, the cell was a danger to all.]
The medical examiner's office (not part of the prison) brought in the FBI to see the body. The FBI opened a criminal investigation. Investigations followed but the "crime" scene was gone and only a little video, photos, some personal items, and the evidence from the body were left. "FBI Laboratory tests did not find anyone else’s blood on items taken from [the cell]." No mention of fingerprints.
"The [prison official] did not collect the evidence properly, photograph the cell sufficiently, or describe the evidence he had collected accurately. Some of the evidence was moved before photographs were taken."
Though DOJ admitted that the prisoner had asked for protection the DOJ expert investigators concluded that it was indeed suicide. The blood on the walls, floor, bed, sink and other items could be explained away as clumsy (my word)attempts to commit suicide. The expert investigators even said that the prisoner had "attempted to cut his throat with a toothpaste tube."
(Any fan of those old Loony Toon cartoons can easily picture the prisoner ricocheting around his cell.)
Just be thankful if the two men get out of prison alive.
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/9912.htm
But I think we all know the President is not smart.
We must pray that God intervenes here or those BP agents doing their jobs will be killed in prison.
"keep your hands off my open borders"
Ditto. I couldn't agree more. He got caught and may have to at least "look" at a pardon because of public outcry.
Isn't it rather obvious the orders come from the top? This administration wants open borders, that became clear in the meeting Bush had with Fox and ...the Canadien PM in, I think it was 03, where the stated goal is a unified North America blah blah...
The lead federal atty Johnny Sutton has long & close ties to the Bush family in Texas, Sutton took the case instead of the federal prosecutors assigned for that area...
I hope this blows up on the WH but I suspect a pardon will be used to serve as damage control when things get too hot for Bush.
Mr. Governor Slick-Hair and your Weenie-Suckup-Sidekick, Rep. McCaul, must step forward and right this wrong...oh and BTW...Mr. Gov....go home!
Shame on you both!
"when it comes to the borders this administration is as corrupt as any that has come before... or more so."
Also on spending and regulation.
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