Posted on 01/19/2009 9:58:40 AM PST by E.G.C.
Edited on 01/19/2009 10:46:59 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON – In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.
Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting, was welcomed by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. They had long argued that the agents were merely doing their jobs, defending the American border against criminals. They also maintained that the more than 10-year prison sentences the pair was given were too harsh.
Rancor over their convictions, sentencing and firings has simmered ever since the shooting occurred in 2005.
Ramos and Compean became a rallying point among conservatives and on talk shows where their supporters called them heroes. Nearly the entire bipartisan congressional delegation from Texas and other lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle pleaded with Bush to grant them clemency.
Bush didn't pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive and that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations, a senior administration official said.
The action by the president, who believes the border agents received fair trials and that the verdicts were just, does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes, the official said...................."
Now Nancy can add this commutation to her list of criminal inquiries into the administration.
Maybe we should prevent the Border Patrol from ever being put into that position. Land-mines and lethal-electrified fences should do just nicely.
Lo-o-o-o-o-o-n-g overdue. too long. I wish Pres. Bush had the cojones to do this a year and a half ago!
Nor is mine.
Bush's buddy on the border, Johnny Sutton, U.S.Attorney for the Western District of Texas, is still a pissant.
We can hope that Zero's AG's first action will be to fire Sutton.
Thanks for the ping. Have been praying for these men and for President Bush to soften his heart towards these men. Thank God.
I won't be praising President Bush on this one. Sounds like he was dragged into doing the right thing.
ping
Hallelujah!!! Best thing he’s done in years!!!
I hope you're right on that.
Questions for FR lawyers:
1. If the president has pardoned you, can you still appeal your conviction?
2. If not, if the president has only commuted your sentence (not given a pardon), can you still appeal your conviction?
I think this could be relevant in the Scooter Libby case. Have read that Libby has not asked for a pardon.
Surprising....
Been looking and can't find a thing yet, Ma. Thanks for the ping.
GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH!
But then I guess Bush got what he wanted. He gave a message to anyone who might actually enforce US border laws. "Do it, and you and your family will lose everything."
Mark
Nice one.
Actually, it is customary to retain the title after the office. That's why it was always "Ambassador Keyes" and such.
Thank you Mr. President
Good for Bush, he finally got the message.
This is the best possible outcome, since it leaves the door open for further legal actions with evidence on the perp, e.g., which could lead to full exoneration or the lifting at least of the felony convictions and restoration of their rights. It also leaves the door open for a future pardon and restoration of rights, going the other way.
I heard one of their wives on the radio, and they wanted commutations, not pardons. They said accepting a pardon would have been an admission of guilt, and they still plan on fighting the conviction.
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