Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 441-460461-480481-500501-502 next last
To: DCPatriot

It’s just eating you up inside that these two heroes will be out in two months, isn’t it? You probably wanted Ramos and Compean to stay in jail throughout their whole decade-long sentences just because the drug dealer, who is in jail for 9.5 years now, is an illegal alien and these two agents were doing too good a job keeping the illegals (and in this case: drug smuggler) you love so much out.


461 posted on 01/20/2009 4:50:12 AM PST by King of Card Games
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 336 | View Replies]

To: King of Card Games

Sorry, but bhy would I give a flip...if your ‘two heroes’ are released?

My posts regarding Ramos and Compean have ALL been objective...bad, rogue border cops. Thin Blue Line...and all that.

Notice Pres. Bush did NOT pardon them. They’re guilty as hell for what they did. Maybe they can get a job as Walmart greeters. Anything that doesn’t give them the authority to strap on a gun and pin on a badge.


462 posted on 01/20/2009 5:47:13 AM PST by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 461 | View Replies]

To: jedgarlives

The agents were a little excessive in what they did.

They were dealing with people who were a lot excessive.

Both of these agents should have had their sentences commuted a year ago. Their “crimes” should have been erased.


463 posted on 01/20/2009 6:04:18 AM PST by 2ndClassCitizen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: E.G.C.

I would have preferred a full pardon, but commuting their sentences is better than nothing.


464 posted on 01/20/2009 6:04:44 AM PST by VRWCmember
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Finally. Thank you!


465 posted on 01/20/2009 6:06:54 AM PST by batter (Wolverines!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DCPatriot
Sorry, but bhy would I give a flip...if your ‘two heroes’ are released?

Becuase they're border agents. That's the only reason you care, the only reason you're here. You think they are guilty simply because they are border agents. You only care about these two because it relates to your precious illegal aliens.

My posts regarding Ramos and Compean have ALL been objective

You're not fooling anybody. Except yourself...maybe.

Notice Pres. Bush did NOT pardon them

Big deal, no body cares. Most people here are happy they are out of jail, period, end of story. Bush saved them about ten years more in jail each. They can now fight this BS conviction from their homes with their families instead of in solitary confinement.

466 posted on 01/20/2009 6:09:50 AM PST by King of Card Games
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 462 | View Replies]

To: MeekOneGOP

Commutation of the sentence based upon a law that probably shouldn’t have been applied to them brings forth the need for Congress to write exceptions into the law they passed which provided for this sentence. I’ve yet to hear one single congress critter even hint at amending the law. Some of this fiasco lies at their feet as far as I’m concerned and I bet they won’t address their cupability.


467 posted on 01/20/2009 6:20:46 AM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 444 | View Replies]

To: 08bil98z24

“BUT they still did abuse their power by filing a false report”

I thought that obstruction of justice was the only charge that they were acquitted of. Was the filing of a false report covered under a different charge that obstruction of justice? By the way, if they really did file a false report, then I agree with you that it is a serious abuse of power, but probably not deserving of jail time.


468 posted on 01/20/2009 6:26:03 AM PST by Texan Tory
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: CaribouCrossing
It is refreshing to see that there are still people . . . who do not allow their emotions to trump facts and commonsense.

Except that Aldrete-Davila is sitting in prison at the moment. I am constantly surprised how, when discussing this case, facts get thrown out the window.

469 posted on 01/20/2009 6:27:07 AM PST by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 283 | View Replies]

To: Texan Tory
The following from the trial transcripts. I think it was the 'tampering' counts to which the verdict was reversed and resentencing done.

Transcript Volume XVII




On the verdict form of Ignacio Ramos: We, the jury, unanimously find, 

Count 1: As to the charge of assault with intent to commit murder and 
aiding and abetting, we, the jury,  unanimously find Ignacio Ramos not guilty.

Count 2: As to the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon and aiding 
and abetting, we, the jury, unanimously find Ignacio Ramos guilty.

Count 3: As to the charge of assault with serious bodily injury and aiding 
and abetting, we, the jury, unanimously find Ignacio Ramos guilty.

Count 4: As to the charge of discharge of a firearm in commission of a 
crime of violence, we, the jury, unanimously find Ignacio Ramos guilty.

Count 8: As to the charge of aiding and abetting, assault with serious 
bodily injury, we, the jury, unanimously find Ignacio Ramos guilty.

As to the charge -- I'm sorry.
Count 9: As to the charge of tampering with an official proceeding, we, 
the jury, unanimously find Ignacio Ramos guilty.

Count 12: As to the charge of deprivation of rights under color of law, 
we, the jury, unanimously find Ignacio Ramos guilty.

 
As to the verdict form of Jose Alonso Compean.

Count 1: As to the charge of assault with intent to commit murder and 
aiding and abetting, we, the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean 
not guilty.

Count 2: Assault with a dangerous weapon in aiding and abetting. As to 
the charge of assault of a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting, we, 
the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

Count 3: As to the charge of assault with serious bodily injury, aiding 
and abetting, we, the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

Count 5: As to the charge of discharge of a firearm relating to a crime 
of violence, we, the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

Count 6: As to the charge of tampering with an official proceeding, we, 
the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

As to -- Count 7: As to the charge of tampering with an official proceeding, 
we, the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

Count 8: As to the charge of tampering with an official proceeding, we, 
the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

Count 10: As to the charge of tampering with an official proceeding, we, 
the jury, unanimously find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

Count 11: Deprivation of rights under color of law. As to the charge of 
deprivation of rights under color of law,14 we, the jury, unanimously 
find Jose Alonso Compean guilty.

end excerpt

470 posted on 01/20/2009 6:53:24 AM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 468 | View Replies]

To: MeekOneGOP

I too am happy their sentences were commuted, but a pardon would have been much more acceptable justice for these two men, IMO.

Best of everything to these two agents and their families in the future.


471 posted on 01/20/2009 7:22:25 AM PST by not2worry (WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 444 | View Replies]

To: MeekOneGOP

Thanks Meekie. I just wish he had pardoned them instead of the commutations. They will have a hard time getting jobs and cannot ever own a firearm.


472 posted on 01/20/2009 7:48:28 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Dissent is patriotic - Hussein is not and will never be my president.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 444 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Yes, the media RAILS about Bush’s low approval ratings
in the 30’s.

But not a PEEP about the Democrap Congress’s ALL-TIME
low of NINE percent. Kudos to Harry Reid and Nan Pelosi.

Nope. Ya won’t hear that on CNN/PMSNBC/ABC/CBS, The
New Yawk Slimes, The LA Slimes and etc.


473 posted on 01/20/2009 7:49:09 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (Obama, WHO is Bill Ayers and WHY are you still friends with him? Please RSVP asap!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 453 | View Replies]

To: E.G.C.

A day late and a dollar short.


474 posted on 01/20/2009 8:39:27 AM PST by publana (Thank you, Sarah!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pelham

Hey, there is a good suggestion. Although I don’t recall the original poster suggesting that he was shot in the traps or lats. Rather, I recall a rather scathing response from you parsing his comment and tossing a bit of scorn upon him. Not sure if you were attempting to call me a pig but I am impressed that you at least looked up a Latin response. Just to clarify, Pig Latin and Latin are not synonomous. I speak the former.


475 posted on 01/20/2009 8:43:52 AM PST by Honor above all (I'm only here to help.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 437 | View Replies]

To: deport

Of what possible use is a verdict from a jury that was denied crucial facts by the DA? This was a rail-road job pure and simple. You know this. Its common knowledge. You are just protecting your buddy Bush for protecting his buddy the rotten DA. Birds of a feather.


476 posted on 01/20/2009 8:53:28 AM PST by gost2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 470 | View Replies]

To: gost2

Of what possible use is a verdict from a jury that was denied crucial facts by the DA?


I didn’t know the DA had authority to define what was admissable into a court proceeding.... I thought that was the Judges duty.... In either case it passed appeals so under I system of justice it stands whether we like it or not.


477 posted on 01/20/2009 8:56:37 AM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 476 | View Replies]

To: mjaneangels@aolcom
He did not die,

True, thanks to C&R's poor aim. They were trying to kill him, though.

and the only evidence he was unarmed was his (Aldrete-Davilla’s) testimony...Again, the only evidence of this was Aldrete-Davilla’s testimony. That was not the testimony from anyone else.

C&R's admitted actions before, during and after the shoot are consistent with Aldrete-Davilla's testimony and not C&R's. That's why a jury convicted them.

478 posted on 01/20/2009 9:34:37 AM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 442 | View Replies]

Comment #479 Removed by Moderator

To: gost2
Oh. So you buy the drivel the rotten DA dished out to the jury as well. All the while covering up critical facts mitigating for Ramos and Campeon. You still like GWB too don’t you?

See posts 442 and 443.

480 posted on 01/20/2009 9:39:56 AM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 421 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 441-460461-480481-500501-502 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson