Transcripts of Trial - Border Agents Compean and Ramos

DOJ - U.S. Attorney's Office (Johnny Sutton) ^ | February 13, 2007

[calcowgirl]

The complete (I think) transcript was filed with the Court on Friday and entered in the Court record yesterday. The DOJ is hosting the transcripts on their website in a series of 18 PDF Files. They range in size from 5 pages to over 300 pages, covering pretrial matters, sentencing, as well as testimony.

The transcripts are linked at the site above, as well as most of the press releases issued by the U.S. Attorney office on this matter.

I am setting up this thread (in chat) as a place for us junkies can comment on the testimony and to post any revelations anyone might find. Have at it!!!!

VOLUME I: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%201.pdf

VOLUME II: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%202.pdf

VOLUME III: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%203.pdf

VOLUME IV: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%204.pdf

VOLUME V: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%205.pdf

VOLUME VI: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%206.pdf

VOLUME VII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%207.pdf

VOLUME VIII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%208.pdf

VOLUME IX: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%209.pdf

VOLUME X: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2010.pdf

VOLUME XI: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2011.pdf

VOLUME XII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2012.pdf

VOLUME XIII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2013.pdf

VOLUME XIV: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2014.pdf

VOLUME XV: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2015.pdf

VOLUME XVI: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2016.pdf

VOLUME XVII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2017.pdf

VOLUME XVIII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2018.pdf
.

[angelsonmyside]

BTTT

[shezza]

My God, these people are wordy, aren't they?

Obfuscation. It's the name of the game.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Thanks for the post!

[FOXFANVOX]

Thanx for all this info, calcowgirl. I started at the beginning and have switched tactics. Now I am starting from the end and working backwards. What strikes me is how sharp [in the most snarky way] Aldrete-Davila's lawyer appears and how out of her depth Ramos' lawyer appears.

I noted that prejudicial evidence of Ramos' allegedly "violent" behavior, none of which he was convicted of, was allowed but evidence of Davila's additional smuggling appears to not have been allowed.

Worse, if I read correctly, Compean was accused of a "false" report for every shot he fired, not for the entirety of the shoot. Stacking the deck...you think!

Again, thanks for the transcript, even tho you have destroyed my free time for days to come. 8)

[FOXFANVOX]

"I just watch some Law n Order shows every now n then..." ;0)

Puts you way ahead of most people and some lawyers. IMHO

[calcowgirl]

Well, that's an interesting tactic! I kind of started in the middle, lol.

I heard on KFI radio in Los Angeles (news break during Rush Limbaugh) that certain pages of testimony from Chris Sanchez and from Agent Blanchette (?) were not included in this transcript release. At least, that's what I though I heard. I haven't seen it in news print.

[DumpsterDiver]

I heard on KFI radio in Los Angeles (news break during Rush Limbaugh) that certain pages of testimony from Chris Sanchez and from Agent Blanchette (?) were not included in this transcript release. At least, that's what I though I heard.

I heard that same news reported yesterday on either KFI or KABC radio news.

I haven't seen it in news print.

Me either.

[ContemptofCourt]

I haven't read the whole thing, but I did read the agents' testimony as well as that of Ramos and Compean. It seems pretty clear why these guys got convicted. For starters, Ramos and Compean got skewered on cross. Their testimony is contradictory and it looks like they are lying. Ramos, in particular, did not testify well at all.

In addition, for the jury to believe Ramos and Compean, they have to believe that every other agent was lying.

[calcowgirl]

In volume 14, the pages below (as listed in the index at the end of Vol 14)
are not included in the transcript. Page 3 simply says
"SEALED HEARING OMITTED BY COURT ORDER."

4  DEFENDANT RAMOS PROFFER OF EVIDENCE
5  WITNESSES:
6  CHRISTOPHER SANCHEZ:
7  Direct Examination by Ms. Stillinger ................. 4
   Cross-Examination by Ms. Kanof ....................... 9
8  Redirect Examination by Ms. Stillinger ............... 12
9  NOLAN BLANCHETTE:
10 Direct Examination by Ms. Stillinger ................. 15
   Cross-Examination by Mr. Antcliff .................... 28
11 Cross-Examination by Ms. Kanof ....................... 28
   Redirect Examination by Ms. Stillinger ............... 31
12 Recross-Examination by Mr. Antcliff .................. 33
   Recross-Examination by Ms. Kanof ..................... 33

[Cyropaedia]

Rep. Walter Jones has been all over this case. He said it creates the worst sort of precedent for law enforcement. The statute that Sutton used prosecute them should only be used against LEO's that use firearms while in the act of committing actual criminal offenses (sexual assault or drug smuggling). Sutton basically prosecuted them for simply using their guns against drug smuggler.

The jury obviously found them not guilty of trying murder Aldrete-Davila. But Sutton needed that bogus charge to "piggyback" 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c).

[Arizona Carolyn]

So far, reading the transcripts I know I would have hung the jury.

[Arizona Carolyn]

NOLAN BLANCHETTE!!!! That came up half way through Christopher Sanchez' testimony and put the Prosecutor into a fury, saying they could not bring that up... and something about if the attorneys for Compean and Ramos wanted to be heard on the matter it would have to be outside the trial.

Who or what is Nolan Blanchette?

[Cyropaedia]

Yeah. If you find them not guilty of attempted murder then how do you find them guilty of 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c).....??

[calcowgirl]

Blanchette was mentioned in this article:

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54199

[calcowgirl]

Also, in the prior Testimony of Andy Ramirez to the Committee on Judiciary in August 2006, pgs 45-46. On page 3 it says simply "SEALED HEARING OMITTED BY COURT ORDER." It looks like the defense got to question him, but only in a sealed hearing, not in open court.


http://judiciary.house.gov/media/pdfs/ramirez081706.pdf

(Snip)

One agent by the name of Blanchett who was subpoenaed by the defense was not allowed to testify. He would have testified that Rene Sanchez kept calling him about drug smuggling activities in Fabens and also when and where the busts were occurring. Agent

Blanchett made a report of this to the Border Patrol because he was suspicious of Sanchez and was reprimanded for doing so.

Homeland security agents went to Fabens to question Blanchett about his reporting the calls from Rene Sanchez. Agent Blanchett was asked questions without representation, and was requested to surrender his weapon. Blanchett requested representation, which he received from his Federal Law Enforcement Officer’s representative who then instructed Blanchett to leave during the questioning by DHS agents and Blanchett immediately walked out of the room.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Did Suttons office prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Ramos and Compean actually intentionally and deliberately committed a Crime of Violence....based on what physical evidence...EXACTLY

Why, with only three days' investigation and no physical evidence did Sanchez find it reasonable to storm Compean's home and arrest him in the middle of the night and then interrogate him for the first time?

[calcowgirl]

With all of the immunity agreements and proffer letters, one wonders what kind of defense they could have launched. They seem to be working with 2 hands behind their back and a sock in their mouth.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Am I the only person here who believes Rene Sanchez is a dirty BP Officer?

[calcowgirl]

I haven't jumped there yet, but there is a distinct stench surrounding him. I need to read more.

[Issaquahking]

Did you see this from Neil Cavuto's Febuary 1st, 2007, show?

CAVUTO: Let me ask you, sir, about the ex-Border Patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, both serving time in jail for shooting a runaway Mexican drug dealer.

Would you pardon them?

BUSH: You know, I get asked about pardons on a lot of different cases. And there's a procedure in place. And what I told members of Congress who have written me or called was to just look at the case, look at the facts in the case.

And people need to understand why these folks were sent to trial and why a jury of their peers convicted them. And that's, of course, what a president does on any pardon request.

CAVUTO: So, what are you saying?

BUSH: I'm saying, I would look at all the facts. And — but there is a process in any case for a president to make a pardon decision. In other words, there is a series of steps that are followed, so that the pardon process is, you know, a rational process.

CAVUTO: Well, they're in jail now. They're not going anywhere.

BUSH: Right. That's right.

CAVUTO: So...

BUSH: So...

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: ... as things stand now, they will stay in jail.

BUSH: As things stand now, they will serve their sentence, right.

CAVUTO: Unless you interfere.

BUSH: Right. But what I'm trying to tell you is, is that it is — there is a series of steps that are analyzed in order for the Justice Department to make a recommendation as to whether or not a president grants a pardon.

CAVUTO: And we're not at that yet?

BUSH: No, we're not at that stage yet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)


He (Cavuto) also had an excellent fast interview with John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted", ripping the system for having Compean and Ramos in General Population, and that they should be out on bail! Will post when transcript is available.