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...................."
At least with Bush, the agents didn’t need to be Marc Rich enough to get their sentences commuted.
This saves them a couple of yrs in prison, not much else.
Bush is a disgrace.
YES!!!!!!!!!
awesome!!! He just went up a little in my opinion!
Ohmygosh! They’ve been on my mind all weekend!
Thanks for the ping!
Thank God, way over due on something that should never have happened in the first place. At least now Ramos and Compean can get back to their families.
Incredible. I just heard a blurb at the top of the hour from somebody not to expect any big name pardons. This is certainly big!
Finally, I’d about given up!
Finally, I’d about given up!
AWESOME!! God Bless you, my Dear, Dear President!!
Finally some DOMESTIC common sense in the last 4 years.
Good.
Wonder how many young people chose a different career path because of this case.
Agreed. And the President is reported to “still believe they got a fair trial and it was a serious crime”. Hmm, I wonder when we CONSERVATIVES might have a presidential candidate???
Commutation is the best anyone could hope for in this case. It is almost unheard of to pardon someone who is currently serving a sentence.
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