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Bush Commutes Sentences of Two Border Agents Convicted of Shooting Drug Dealer
AP ^ | 1-19-09 | DEB RIECHMANN

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...................."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; US: Arizona; US: California; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aliens; border; borderagents; borderpatrol; bush; bush43; bushstillsucks; bushsucks; compean; corruption; crime; dea; dhs; drugs; gangs; godblesspresbush; gwb; homeland; illegalaliens; immigrantlist; johnnysutton; jorgeboosh; law; mexico; national; nifognism; nifongism; openborders; police; prison; ramos; ramosandcompean; ramoscompean; security; shadowgovernment; showtrial; usgovernment; wot
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To: E.G.C.

Our Commander in Chief doing a positive thing on Gen. Robert E. Lee day—makes for celebration.


21 posted on 01/19/2009 10:03:39 AM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: jedgarlives

at least they can fight their conviction from the comfort of their homes.


22 posted on 01/19/2009 10:05:57 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: SueRae
Yep, it's posted on Fox News' web site as breaking News.

As mentioned on another post their sentences were commuted.

23 posted on 01/19/2009 10:06:29 AM PST by E.G.C. (Click on a freeper's screename and then "In Forum" to read his/her posts)
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To: E.G.C.
At this point, better late than never. It was a fiasco from the get-go. Bush did not do this because of his convictions, he knew he could not leave office with such a wrong in place.

Had he the sense of justice, he should have done it 18 months ago. Who says he did not feel the impact of polling data....

24 posted on 01/19/2009 10:06:59 AM PST by Born In America (Warning: Use liberals only under close conservative supervision.....)
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To: E.G.C.

Thank God.

Suck it open borders people.


25 posted on 01/19/2009 10:07:48 AM PST by King of Card Games
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To: jedgarlives
That still means they are convicted felons.

They still committed a crime. Commuted works for me, they do not deserve to be in jail, BUT they still did abuse their power by filing a false report ... Law enforcement/border enforcement is something they never deserve to be EVER again.

26 posted on 01/19/2009 10:08:12 AM PST by 08bil98z24 (War on Drug supporters are enemies of the Constitution.)
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To: E.G.C.

I just hope and pray that President Bush leaves John Walker Lindh to rot.


27 posted on 01/19/2009 10:09:27 AM PST by SueRae
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To: E.G.C.
I haven’t checked yet, but you can bet there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth over on the DU.
28 posted on 01/19/2009 10:09:45 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: E.G.C.
Yet BDSers retain their stench.

29 posted on 01/19/2009 10:09:47 AM PST by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; BobFromNJ; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; Coleus; cyborg; DKNY; ...
Commuted, not pardoned. They’re still convicts but it’s better than nothing.

That's right... I'll take it. Ramos and Campion will be out of prison.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BUSH!!! (Although he should've done this immediately)

30 posted on 01/19/2009 10:10:17 AM PST by nutmeg (No terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11/01. Thank you President Bush.)
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To: E.G.C.

Thank you President Bush.


31 posted on 01/19/2009 10:10:25 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life ;o)
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To: 08bil98z24

I don’t care if they are pardoned or commuted, just glad they’re out of jail period. And I am sure they are both too.


32 posted on 01/19/2009 10:10:25 AM PST by King of Card Games
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To: davidosborne; airborne; Antoninus; GulfBreeze; processing please hold; RasterMaster; ...

ping


33 posted on 01/19/2009 10:10:32 AM PST by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: E.G.C.

praise GOD


34 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:06 AM PST by peace with honor
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To: E.G.C.

BTTT!


35 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:10 AM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: 08bil98z24

I totally agree. They did commit a crime, but their sentence was way over the top. I think commuting their sentences was just.


36 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:26 AM PST by mockingbyrd
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To: E.G.C.
Wow!

About freakin time.

37 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:26 AM PST by Lazamataz (Illegal Zombies: Just Eating the Brains that Ordinary Americans Won't Eat)
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To: E.G.C.
Thank you President Bush!
38 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:30 AM PST by ladyvet (WOLVERINES!!!!!)
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To: E.G.C.

Thank you, Mr. President.


39 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:44 AM PST by Grunthor (Democracy: Theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard)
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To: E.G.C.

Better late than never.

Long overdue.


40 posted on 01/19/2009 10:11:54 AM PST by eleni121 (EN TOUTO NIKA!! + In this sign Conquer! +)
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