Posted on 05/16/2008 9:51:33 AM PDT by kingattax
If President Bush would simply pardon the unjustly imprisoned former Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, we could all rest much easier knowing that in the United States, a foreign drug smuggler's word does not prevail over the word of federal agents in the line of duty.
This week, the Kentucky-based group, Christians Reviving America's Values, filed an ethics complaint with the Texas Bar Association to investigate U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, whom the group argues willfully misled a jury to convict the agents. Here is a refresher on the case for those who need it: Messrs. Ramos and Compean are serving 11- and 12-year federal prison sentences, respectively, for shooting in the buttocks an admitted drug smuggler who abandoned 743 pounds of marijuana. As the men tell it, they shot Mexican national Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila southeast of El Paso three years ago after the suspect refused the agents' orders to stop. Wounded, Mr. Aldrete-Davila fled to Mexico, leaving behind the van containing the massive drug load.
Here's the awful turn: Federal authorities subsequently located Mr. Aldrete-Davila in Mexico to offer immunity in exchange for his testimony against the border agents. He then filed a $5 million suit against the federal government for violating his civil rights.
On this man's testimony, the border agents were convicted by a federal jury on charges that included: assault with a dangerous weapon, lying about the incident and violating the alleged smuggler's Fourth Amendment right to be protected against illegal search and seizure.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Waiting... and waiting. It's all in the hands of the justices.
Sorry, but I think a pardon is the least acceptable legal alternative; a last resort in order to gain them their freedom. This case must be thrown out.
I agree.
It will also mean that any BP officer is exposed to federal whimsy and pressure from the Mexican government (whatever the hell that is).
I hope they address the misapplication of the 924(c) statute. If they don't clarify it's intended use (against drug-traffickers, not law enforcement), Congress should get busy revising the law to make sure judges and overzealous prosecutors don't try do this again.
Go find the shell casings for me, but don't disturb them? LOL!
You guys are funny.
You mean the casings they disturbed? At the scene they didn't mention to their supervisors?
So Ramos said, "We shot at this guy over there"? Why not?
So who reported their shooting?
That's funny!
What’s even funnier is that you do not know anything about the case.
You’re right, they did nothing wrong. LOL!
Hey why don't you do yourself a favor and actually read the testimony. This is the same guy who testifies that he arrives at the scene hears gun shots then goes to the van to find a cell phone to peruse. But here is some fantastic reasoning by the liar.
From Vasquez testimony page 48.
Q. Until the investigation in this case began, did you tell anyone that you knew that Agent Compean had expended 14 shell casings on February 17, 2005? A. No, ma'am Q. Why not? A. I was under the wrong impression that he was going to report the incident. And that I was going to be called at the time, or after.
Unbelievable!!! After telling Vasquez to "destroy" evidence to help a coverup and thus commit a felony, Compean was expected by Vasquez to report it?
If we are funny, you are downright rip-roaring, gut-busting, tear-causing hilarious!
OMG, Vasquez and Compean are both liars. Do you have a point somewhere?
Do you have a point? Plus, how in the heck do you know that both are liars. We certainly know that Vasquez is a liar now. Juarez is a liar. We know that Aldrete is a liar. Compean admitted shooting his pistol and picking up and disposing of some brass. He admits talking to Vasquez. He admits he slipped in the ditch while attempting to thwart a suspect who refused to halt and comply with the lawful instructions of a United States official while within the federally controlled border of Texas. Now it seems pretty obvious what point I was making. Compean was telling the truth about the contents of the discussion between he and Vasquez. Vasquez lied.
“That’s funny!”
It is true.
President Bush,
Pardon Ramos and Compean!
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