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...................."
Good!!!!!
NICE!!!!
commuted
Excellent.
Thank you President Bush.
Good for him.
I was getting worried he was going to miss the opportunity to do so.
Even a broken clock........
Bush finally gets something right.
Thank God...now blanket pardon the administration, clap a little and fly to Texas!
Woo Hoo!
Commuted, not pardoned. They’re still convicts but it’s better than nothing.
Great....making this whole “transition” fiasco a bit easier to stomach.
Listening to Rush...just heard it on the news.
Thank you Lord. This is great news!
Thank you President Bush!
FINALLY! But he should have done it IMMEDIATELY.
Thanks to President Bush. Whether these men are guilty of doing wrong or not, this punishment was absurd and way too severe. They have a difficult job and split second decisions should not ruin lives.
No so. He even managed to screw this up. Commuted sentence not a pardon. That still means they are convicted felons.
Clock is still broken.
I just heard on radio that Bush commuted their sentence ....can’t believe it!
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