Posted on 07/19/2007 6:57:19 AM PDT by Cat loving Texan
It was Hunter’s testimony that convinced them!
This not bizarro world post. Hello.
=o <-— that was my mouth when I saw this.
No. It was the immigration fiasco. How this has become an Immigration is beyond me.
Hunter and Rohrbacher have been bulldogging this since day one. And recruiting Feinstein to their side. There is a reason both were called to testify. Feinstein is in favor of the immigration bill, it has little to do with that.
This is all politics.
JUST DO IT
I think this is the first time I have agreed with one of my two U.S. Senators (Feinstein). Boxer is hopeless.
Feinstein doing something right for once. I can’t believe it.
For Feinstein, perhaps. Though she seemed less than pleased with Johnny Sutton. Wait until the House has Sutton testifying in front of Rohrbacher and Hunter. For these two guys it ain’t politics, this runs in their DNA.
Unfortunately the RATS will be the ones getting the credit if W commutes their sentence. W dragged his feet and now the RATS will be highly favored by the (legal voting block)Hispanic community. Cornyn and Feinstein are no fools, saw the opportunity and grabbed it!! The pubs lost a golden opportunity....IDIOTS!!
All these guys had to do was to tell the truth and not to lie about and none of this would have happened.
Cornyn is a GOPer.
Notice Hunter’s testimony did not say that the BP agents did no wrong. Nobody is saying they are completely guilt free. But its a nonsensical prosecution. Violating his c=ivil rights, using a gun in a commision of a violent crime (the reason the sentence was 10 years min). Utter bullshit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQkO2e1LUxw
Duncan Hunter Defends Border Patrol Agents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQkO2e1LUxw
Duncan Hunter Defends Border Patrol Agents
For immediate release:
July 17, 2007
Hunter testifies for border patrol agents
California Congressman seeks full pardon for Ramos and Compean
(Washington, D. C.).....United States Congressman Duncan Hunter took his fight
to the nation’s capitol today (July 17) to convince President Bush to pardon
two border patrol agents he feels were unjustly imprisoned.
Hunter appeared before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism
Technology and Homeland Security.
The California Congressman testified that he strongly supports a Presidential
pardon of former agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean because, “there
is absolutely no justification for such unfair and excessive prison
sentences.”
The incident dates back to February 2005, when the agents tried to stop a van
driven by alleged drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila near the Mexico border.
According to court documents, a scuffle ensued between agent Compean and
suspect Aldrete-Davila. The suspect broke loose and fled on foot.
Agent Ramos says he believes that he saw a gun, a fact contradicted by the
suspect. Both agents reportedly fired at Aldrete-Davila, who fell, then
continued his escape across the border.
Later, Ramos and Compean filed their official report listing the 743-pounds of
marijuana they found in the van, but failed to mention the gunfire.
A Homeland Security agent apparently heard about the episode and traveled to
Mexico. According to court documents, the Homeland Security agent offered
Aldrete-Davila immunity, if he would testify against Ramos and Compean.
In his testimony today, Hunter took offense to that arrangement. “The U.S.
government sadly decided to side with the drug dealer and prosecute agents
Compean and Ramos for simply fulfilling their duties as border patrolmen.
The drug smuggler walked away from the incident with only a wound in his
rear-end, and the opportunity to attempt another drug run.”
Hunter continued, “The men and women of the border patrol are certainly not
above the laws they are empowered to enforce, but, they must also know that
when they apply the necessary and appropriate level of force, their government
will not work aggressively to ensure they are punished while lawlessness is
rewarded.”
U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, a Bush appointee, prosecuted the agents.
In March, a jury found them guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon discharge
of a firearm during a violent crime, obstructing justice lying about the
incident, and willfully violating Aldrete-Davila’s Fourth Amendment right to be
free from illegal seizure.
Because there was gunfire, the mandatory-minimum prison sentence the agents
will serve is 10 years. The U.S. Probation Office in El Paso, Texas had
recommended 20 years for each of the two agents. Hunter reemphasized his belief
that, “there is absolutely no justification for such unfair and excessive
prison sentences.”
Hunter’s congressional district is in southern California near the border with
Mexico. He told the members of the subcommittee, “I represent the border
communities, and have for more than 26-years. I have worked with the fine men
and women of the U.S. Border Patrol to ensure they receive the support and
resources they need to address the constant intrusion of drug and human
smugglers across our borders. It troubles me to think that questionable
testimony by a drug smuggler, who was granted immunity and free medical care
for his cooperation, was put before the two border patrol agents who willingly
accepted this inherently dangerous responsibility.”
Hunter noted, “The very day they surrendered to federal custody, I recommended
that agents Compean and Ramos be segregated and was assured they would be
removed from the general population and close attention was being paid to their
personal safety. The attack against agent Ramos indicates concerns for his
personal safety and protection were ignored.”
On February 6, 2007, Hunter wrote to the President requesting that an
investigation be conducted into the attack against agent Ramos. The letter also
requested that Bureau of Prisons Director Harley Lappin be discharged from his
position should it be ascertained that the proper precautions were not taken.
Hunter concluded his testimony by emphasizing his belief that “Pardoning agents
Compean and Ramos is the only option available to correct this terrible
injustice and, just as importantly, restoring the confidence of the border
patrol and the American people that their nation is serious about enforcing its
immigration and smuggling laws.” Hunter has said when elected president, his
first order of business will be to pardon the agents.
Hunter has led the national campaign for border security and
immigration reform. He has been joined by scores of his fellow members, and
several activist groups. He was the only Republican Presidential Candidate to
attend Tuesday’s hearing.
Observers believe that the subcommittee members sought Hunter’s testimony
because of his long fight for a more secure border, and his legislative
initiatives. Hunter drafted legislation that was signed by the President to
construct over 800 miles of fence on the southern border. Only a few miles of
fencing have been completed. Hunter has charged that the department of Homeland
Security has the money and the mandate, but “the administration has a ‘case of
the slows’ in getting the fence built.” He has pledged that “he will see that
the fence is up within six month after he takes office as President.
Bravo!
Duncan Hunter presented a convincing argument for the pardon of Ramos and Compean. See it on Youtube on another thread today. Since their supervisor was on site at the time of the incident, no report was deemed necessary, according to Laura Ingraham minutes ago. I will once again email the White House to pardon the two Border Patrolmen, going Feinstein and Cornyn one better.
I agree. But there are people here who think that there was some sort of conspiracy with the mexican govt to send these agents up the river.
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