They attempted to cover up their crime.
What part of illegal doesn't Tom understand?
Hypocrite.
Posted on 09/08/2006 10:27:53 AM PDT by radar101
Members of Congress petitioning the president to pardon two U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted of assaulting an illegal alien who was trying to smuggle drugs into the U.S. are now calling for an investigation of the U.S. attorney who prosecuted the agents.
"These were good agents doing their job," said Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.). "There is something that stinks to high heaven."
On Feb. 17, 2005, U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were on duty when they encountered Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila in a van carrying 743 pounds of marijuana. When the agents tried to stop Aldrete-Davila, he fled. Unable to shake the pursuing agents, he abandoned his van and continued running toward Mexico.
The agents' version of what happened next contradicts Aldrete-Davila's testimony. The one thing all agree on is that, while fleeing on foot, the illegal alien and drug smuggler was shot. Aldrete-Davila was treated at a hospital in El Paso and then returned to Mexico.
After learning of the shooting, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton sought out Aldrete-Davila in Mexico and offered him immunity from prosecution if he would return to the United States to testify against Ramos and Compean.
The initial immunity offer covered Aldrete-Davila's illegal entry into the U.S., the drug smuggling and his unlawful flight from the agents to avoid arrest. Sutton expanded the immunity to include a subsequent drug offense, when Aldrete-Davila tried to smuggle another 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States.
"The Justice Department says they don't have the resources to secure our borders, but somehow they found the resources to send agents to Mexico to find Aldrete-Davila and prosecute these agents," Tancredo said.
Rep. Red Poe (R-Texas) said the Justice Department is "on the wrong side" of this case.
"It appears as though they are working for the government of Mexico instead of the government of the United States," Poe said. "Instead of prosecuting [the agents], they should be giving them a medal."
Sentencing hearings for the agents have been postponed twice and are now scheduled for Oct. 18. They each face from five to 20 years in prison.
"It will absolutely be a sin, it will be a crime if these agents go to jail," said Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.).
Jones has discussed the case with Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and the White House. He told Cybercast News Service that "Something is not right. Washington, D.C. needs to look into that office's activities."
"We need to start asking questions and go down to Texas and find out if there is a problem," he added, noting that there is a history of Sutton pursuing cases against law enforcement officials. "If the American people rally behind these two agents, then we can certainly look into the actions of the federal office down in Texas."
Sutton's office did not return phone calls requesting comment for this article.
They attempted to cover up their crime.
What part of illegal doesn't Tom understand?
Hypocrite.
This is totally unbelievable
Maybe I'm reading this article wrong... what crime did the border agents commit, and how did they try to cover it up?
This shows how much clout drug deals have in this country. Of course, the border agents, should be pardoned (Clinton even pardoned drug dealers and pedophiles) - they should never have been charged in the first place.
ping
False. They covered up their crime. Ask Nixon about that.
They tried to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler.
There has to be more to this story than what is posted here. I think there is some important information missing about what testimony and evidence was presented in court.
If this was a simple "take me for my drug-smuggling word" I believe the US Attorney needs to taken behind the woodshed for a little one-on-one with a border agent.
amnesty = immunity
Now the smuggler is attempting to sue the Border Patrol for $5 million for violating his civil rights.
My only complaint is the Border Patrol agents didn't violate his civil rights permanently.
Sutton expanded the immunity to include a subsequent drug offense, when Aldrete-Davila tried to smuggle another 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States.
--
Doesn't the US have a death penalty provision for drug kingpins?
While marijuana may not be a killer drug, this is close to a ton of pot that this one indiviudal helped to bring into this ocuntry. and he now receives immunity in a nation he is not a resident of.. wow.
as to the cover-up, Marines were always taught to police their brass after discharging their weapons.. Not that I am trying to defend the actions of the agents in picking up his spent rounds and as a result being accused of tampering with a "crime scene" and blocking an investigation.
It does seem odd how some would rather make an example of the agents and not the other way around, oh well.
"There is something that stinks to high heaven."
There sure is, Tom! This case might not be where to start asking questions but, 'the powers that be' need to lay their plans out for the American public to see, NOW! We can't stand by and allow members of some secret society or international organization to control the future of OUR country!
So there's no problem with justice's actions in your universe?
"They attempted to cover up their crime.
What part of illegal doesn't Tom understand?
Phhfffttt.
First, they shot an unarmed fleeing man in the back in a situation that does not look as if it called for the use of deadly force.
Second, they proceeded to alter the crime scene by picking expended brass. Law enforcement officers know that they're not supposed to do that, as it makes determining exactly what happened impossible.
Altering the crime scene to conceal one's actions or to make them look more favorable is always considered to be consciousness of guilt.
Third- Some FR folks are grifting donations for their "Defense Fund".
And suddenly it all becomes clear.
"Cagey" folks, aren't they? :)
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