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...................."
Bout time..never should of been there to begin with...
They are going HOME
Praise God for Answer Prayers
It’s about time!
They still committed crimes, the punishment they received did not fit those crimes.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Bush commutes sentences of former US border agents
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6mH44rWD9yyZf_AZ7YxQDVFL7WwD95QC5FG0
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 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.
Compean and Ramos, who have served about two years of their sentences, are expected to be released from prison within the next two months.
Why does it take two months to release them?!
Yippeeee! It’s ‘bout time. I wish it was more, but at least it’s commutation and the families of Ramos & Compean can be back together soon.
From AP: “Compean and Ramos, who have served about two years of their sentences, are expected to be released from prison within the next two months.”
Thank you, President Bush.
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Great news!
It’s the best thing the president has done in ages. I honestly didn’t think the men had a chance of going free. I’m happy to admit I was wrong.
Bout time!!!!!
Why did I have a feeling You People could not be satisfied?
Per that FoxNews link:
Their prison sentences will now expire on March 20 of this year.
Haven’t seen any reliable news articles but hopefully it was at least a full commutation.
And of course GWB should have granted a complete pardon but I never thought he’d deign to completely overturn the judgment of a Texas jury. That clue was dropped a long time ago when sockpuppet Chertoff said on TV “Far be it for me to overturn a Texas jury”.
Since he is nothing but a bootlicker to external forces and is no longer his own man, I had always assumed that what Chertoff exclaimed in public was in fact what GWB had said to him in private. And of course the malicious prosecutor (a Republican version of Partick Fitzgerald) is one of GWB’s personal friends and so there was no question that he also would not be “overturned”.
No question that Ramos and Compean were sacrifices to the Vincente Fox mafiamos.
Well, their lives are ruined, but at least they’ll get out of the slammer.
Thanks GWB, you’re a real man. /triple gag sarc
Mind you, I am pleased something was done. However, it does not change my view of Bush as just another Republican very short on conservative principles....
“NOW I CAN CHANGE MY TAG LINE PING!!!!!”
Good news doesn’t happen to cause that very often, does it!?
Thanks for all your work, Ladycalif.
I admit to shedding tears of relief when I just heard this. Had he not let them out, I would forever hold a grudge against a President I want to respect. Wish it was a pardon, but will accept this.
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