Posted on 02/14/2007 2:00:14 AM PST by Man50D
Government officials will be held accountable for their statements regarding the federal case against two former U.S. Border Patrol agents, Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, who are in prison for shooting a fleeing smuggler bringing drugs from Mexico into the United States, according to the White House spokesman.
Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, asked a question at a press briefing that had been submitted by a WND reader, Johnny Kubicek.
He had some cited of the developments in the case on which WND has reported including Homeland Security Inspector General Robert Skinner's comments that his deputies falsely told lawmakers the agency had documentation the two were rogue cops "out to shoot Mexicans" as well as allegations of connections between the smuggler and one Border Patrol agent.
The two agents were charged, tried and convicted of shooting a fleeing drug smuggler in the buttocks. They were given sentences of 11 and 12 years in jail, while federal prosecutors granted the drug smuggler immunity to return to the United States and testify against the law enforcement officers. The circumstances of the case have outraged many concerned over the problems of illegal immigration and running drugs from Mexico into the United States. Dozens of members of Congress as well as several activist groups have called for the officers to be pardoned.
"Could you ask Tony if Attorney General Gonzales is going to look into these 'anomalies' in this case?" Kubicek asked.
So Kinsolving did. "Inspector General Robert Skinner admitted at a hearing that his deputies falsely told lawmakers that the agency had documentary proof that then Border patrol Agents Ramos and Compean were rogue cops, 'out to shoot Mexicans.' And my question, is the president assured that Attorney General Gonzales is investigating this?"
"I don't know," said Tony Snow, the presidential spokesman. "Did you read the fuller Inspector General's Report? … It's worth reading. I think that questions about the Inspector – see, the thing about Inspectors General is they actually do operate independently of the agencies, as you understand. But on the other hand, Mr. Skinner will have to answer for characterizations he's made."
In response to a second question about the online activities of some campaign staffers for presidential candidate John Edwards, Snow responded that President Bush expects "his aides to behave in a seemly manner."
Kinsolving had asked about the controversy over some of Edwards' aides, specifically Melissa McEwan, using obscenities on the Internet.
"I have never heard you or any of your 10 predecessors – whom I have covered at that podium – use the obscene words for feces, fornication, semen, anus, and vagina, all of which words were used publicly by Melissa McEwan, who is still on the John Edwards presidential campaign staff because he refused to fire her. And my question, first: Surely the president would never put up with such public obscenity like former Sen. Edwards is doing, would he?'
"Well, I don't know about that, but the president expects his aides to behave in a seemly manner," Snow said.
According to reports, McEwan was joined by fellow Edwards campaign staffer Amanda Marcotte in posting blog writings that many considered offensive.
"Bill Donohue – anti-Semite, right wing lackey whose entire job is to create non-controversies in order to derail liberal politics – has been running a scorched earth campaign to get me fired for my personal beliefs and my writings on this blog," Marcotte had posted on the Pandagon blog.
Donohue is the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and said if Edwards cannot get rid of such people, "he's essentially disqualifying himself from the White House."
Edwards had said he was offended by some of the blog postings, but refused to fire Marcotte and McEwan. Marcotte later wrote that she was quitting the campaign.
Among Marcotte's other opinions: "The Catholic church is not about to let something like compassion for girls get in the way of using the state as an instrument to force women to bear more tithing Catholics."
McEwan's opinion was addressed to religious conservatives: "What don't you lousy mother----- understand about keeping your noses out of our britches, our beds and our families?"
Edwards had responded that "everyone is entitled to their opinion."
The really scary thing is that it doesn't seem all that far fetched for the GW crowd these days.
IMHO, the investigation, if carried up the food chain, will find high ranking U.S. public officials in bed with Mexican drug runners.
I wish Tony Snow had been a little more strong and said something to the effect that the President considers it a major breach of trust for Federal officials to knowingly make false statements to Congress and that those who do so will be prosecuted. By saying that Mr. Skinner will have to answer for characterizations he's made one gets the impression that he will be allowed to "explain" the inconsistency and all will be well.
"high ranking U.S. public officials in bed with Mexican drug runners"
Hey, I guess it is okay now for Presidents to be associated with drug lords. Remember, Bill Clinton pardoned one who was not yet even convicted!
"Homeland Security Inspector General Robert Skinner's"
Just another government employee who is above us normal citizens.
ping
That was my first thought as well! We have a LOT of snow here in Indiana.
IMHO President Bush's abandonment of our southern border is being done in cooperation with -- in fact is driving -- plans to forcibly join America, Mexico and Canada into the next "EU".
Border Patrol agents are being forced to stand down.
Our border is being abandoned.
Unfortunately, this process is also destroying the Republican party in America.
Imagine what this will lead to -- a socialist conglomerate of Mexican drug corruption, Candian leftism, and the American hard left, ruling over our hemisphere.
Thanks Mr. President.
The question remains --will the government that cut a deal with the Mexican Consulate --to send men to prison on false charges --then lied to Congress about their testimony--will the governement truely hold its own people
accountable? Or is it the fox gaurding the henhouse?
Losing confidence with the govt., its officials and especially the legal system.
I just came back in the house after plowing out two neighbors' driveways and my own, about 15 inches of dense snow, and we're only a quarter of the way into the storm so far....
QUAGMIRE !!!
BUSH'S FAULT !!!
Just checking in from the City of Evil...
I saw the "Snow: Officials will be held accountable" headline and I thought, no way! When has a GS, SES, or appointed government employee ever been held accountable -- except for a whistle blower or someone questioning the doings of the government.
I was right. Looks like Homeland Security Inspector General Robert Skinner done lost his independence. Go directly to jail, do not collect . . . .
Let me translate that: "They will be reprimanded for not telling a more believable lie to Congress, especially Skinner who failed in his mission to keep the lie spinning and Congress and the American people mesmerized with D.C speak and the bureaucratic two-step."
I do believe that \this whole border incident and the Jailing of the two agents is in line with George Bush's Open Border policy .
" Take a Mex to lunch"
Prosecutor Sutton seems to have used Lies and false statements to convict these men and if they are Killed in prison Sutton should be tried and convicted for murder.
ie: "they shot the Smuggler in the Back", if that is true then how come the bullet went thru his left hip through his urethra into his right hip???
I've seen enough CSI programs to be able to simulate the path of the bullet, especially if Emily Procter from CSI Miami will help me.
That's what you get for nominating an "electable" RINO. If we nominate Rudy McRomney he'll finish the job.
Well, that's certainly ambiguous enough.
Is that statement altogether true, and my question is whether these fabrications resonated in the trial itself.
That definitely would have set a better standard.
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