Border agents who testified against convicted co-workers will be fired

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin ^ | February 10, 2007 | Sara A. Carter

[truthkeeper]

Border agents who testified against convicted co-workers will be fired
Men who were at scene of shooting terminated for changing their stories
by Sara A. Carter

Two Border Patrol agents who testified against two co-workers convicted of shooting a drug smuggler will be fired for changing their stories about events surrounding the shooting, according to documents obtained by the Daily Bulletin.

Sources inside the Border Patrol also say Oscar Juarez, a third agent who testified against Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, resigned from the agency last month shortly before he was to be fired.

All three agents gave sworn testimony against Ramos and Compean for the U.S. Attorney's Office, which successfully prosecuted the shooting case in March. The agents were given immunity in exchange for their testimony despite changing their accounts of the incident several

"When you give deals to witnesses like immunity, the government usually gets the testimony (it wants)," said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, a former judge and prosecutor. "This case is a perfect example."

[dennisw]

I have a strong suspicion that Johnny Sutton has just proven the Peter Principle.

He's a GW pal from way back to his Texas governorship. His "in" with GW is that he was on a championship UT baseball team in 1983. GWBush is well aware of what Sutton's been up to. Dittos w/ Alberto Gonzales who could have phoned Sutton at any time and told him to cease and desist

But Alberto's grandparents were illegal aliens. He has never denied this under questioning. Do the jig saw puzzle pieces fall into place now?

[SauronOfMordor]

That is why weed has not been legalized. Too much money to be made.

If it was legalized, people would just grow it in their back yards (it IS a weed), and it would essentially be free and untaxable

[truthkeeper]

El Paso, the trial venue, is a border town. I understand it is very "illegal friendly," with many Mexican-Americans still having strong ties to Mexico. Actually, I heard this more than once from my ex-father-in-law (born and bred Mexican-American El Pasoan). I wouldn't think it would be all that difficult to put together a comparable OJ-type jury, given the ethnic composition of the town. (JMO, of course)

I've also heard this aspect discussed by some of the other principals in the case...so I doubt it's "just me."

[battletank]

"I understand it is very "illegal friendly," with many Mexican-Americans still having strong ties to Mexico."

Coming soon to a town near us all.

[brityank]

I would sure as heck rather win my appeal than be pardoned.

Concur.
With a pardon there is no further recourse. Win the appeal and bring a RICO case against the whole uplinked tree.

[truthkeeper]

Believe me, I have quite a jigsaw puzzle of my own I've been working on...and unfortunately, it's pretty disturbing.

[babygene]

"I am not a lawyerly type, but I can tell you that if I was one of these agents, I would sure as heck rather win my appeal than be pardoned. One of those two still says I'm guilty but essentially forgiven."

Except that the A-O Bush (that I voted for twice) and his crooked administration is going to make sure they don't live long enough to get a new trial...

[righteousindignation]

at the very least they should be released pending appeal! I cant believe some would let them suffer in prison knowing (at Last!} what are the real facts!!

[truthkeeper]

Agree totally. As it is they'll have to post a mind-blowing bond. And I don't think there's much chance they'll be running off to Mexico anytime soon either.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"just because I hold a liberal position on the social topic of illegal immigration doesn't mean I waive my rights to speak an opinion on it."

It does, however, tell everyone here in the FreeRepublic to take your opinions on this issue with a grain of salt.

The comment about the two persecuted BP agents stealing the drugs is the dumbest thing you've said, and the nastiest. It's not that it isn't possible, just that there is no evidence to make you think that it is so but your own liberal biases.

Michael Frazier

[Lancey Howard]

I can only conclude that there are some high level government people that are making a load of money off of drugs being smuggled into this country. These unfortunate border agents stumbled onto one of these deals & caught this dealer, who was never supposed to get caught.

I concur.

More corruption seen among border agents.

I have a feeling that the woman border patrol official (Rene somebody?) who got this whole prosecution started when she was called from Mexico allegedly by her friend, the drug dealer's mother, is up to her eyeballs in corruption. She was probably supposed to make sure nothing happened when the drug dealer made his run.

Also, I am pretty sure Sutton is corrupt to the core. Look at all the lying that's being exposed.

[angelsonmyside]

Kathleen Cardone, appointed by Bush, nomination supported by Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso.

Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso

"Reyes was then promoted to Sector Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol first in McAllen and subsequently in El Paso from 1984 to 1995. Reyes quickly became known as one of our government's strongest and most effective innovators in border management. In McAllen and El Paso, Reyes initiated forward-thinking programs such as "Operation Hold the Line," the Border Patrol's Canine Program, and the Border Patrol's National Anti-Drug School Education Program. "Hold the Line" continues as part of the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (formerly the INS) strategy for the entire Southwest border and earned Reyes recognition from the White House, Congress, the Department of Justice and the INS, as well as numerous local, state, national and international organizations.

Known as "Silver" to his friends, Reyes retired in December 1995 after 26 ½ years with the Border Patrol to run for Congress.

Leadership in Congress

In December 2006, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi selected Reyes to be Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a committee on which Reyes has served since 2001. The committee drafts the laws that govern, authorizes the funding for, and provides Congressional oversight of the 16 agencies that comprise the U.S. intelligence community, which includes components of the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, State and Energy."

[antisocial]

Thanks

[pollyannaish]

Thanks. That is an excellent example of histrionics.

You don't like the Bush Administration border policy. No rational person could disagree with you, therefore the Administration must be crooked. Therefore the Bush administration is personally trying to make sure these guys get killed to protect their own crookedness.

I understand your position, but frankly it is one fry short of a happy meal.

[Sender]

Will it eventually be Canamerexico or simply Mexamerica? Might as well have one contiguous state from the Panama canal to Alaska.

[mek1959]

Unifox,

I understand the skepticism, believe me. I used to work in two Congressional Offices and am very familiar with what happens to the typical email/letter like these. Having said that, ALL political organizations will and do monitor volume on a particular issue. The specifics of each email are immaterial.

Nonetheless, it doesn't hurt to try - knowing that almost all of these will fall on some low level correspondent's junk email box.

[dirtboy]

So far we have two agencies in on this and caught in acts of malfeasance.

The burden of proof in the court of public opinion is now on the Bush Admin.

[Admin Moderator]

The title you created had to be changed to the original published title.

We are trying to reduce the number of duplicate threads.

Please do not alter titles from any published material.

[pollyannaish]

No, for now the burden of proof is on those two agencies and any others directly involved. The administration has very little to do with this UNTIL the entire process is completed.

As far as the court of public opinion...frankly its lost at this point because the press is controlled by folks with agendas...right and left. So everyone needs The Administrations actions should not change one iota based on public opinion.

If the President came out tomorrow and pardoned these two guys, he would hear from the same crowd that he should be impeached because it took him too long and the border is still open. Those folks have already decided they hate the guy, just like the extreme left, and he can do absolutely nothing about it. If he tried, it would just get worse.

I'm exceptionally frustrated by the level of manipulation that is being wrought on the right. It's truly disappointing and frankly disturbing. I used to believe we were better than that. I don't think so any more. I guess humans are humans.