Posted on 01/17/2008 11:37:31 PM PST by pissant
Two California Republican congressmen yesterday called on President Bush to pardon two former U.S. Border patrol agents sent to prison a year ago this week for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect in the buttocks as he fled back into Mexico.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher accused Mr. Bush of being "arrogant and heartless" for refusing to pardon or commute the sentences of former agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, who were ordered last January to serve 11- and 12-year prison sentences, respectively.
He said they had spent the past year in solitary confinement "suffering conditions worse than detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
"It has been a year since Border Agents Ramos and Compean entered prison," Mr. Rohrabacher said. "This marks a year of shame for President Bush, who has been fully aware of the details of this blatant miscarriage of justice and chosen to do absolutely nothing about it.
"The president has shown us his arrogant and heartless side by permitting the wrongful incarceration of Ramos and Compean to continue," he said.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican presidential candidate who in- troduced a still-pending bill last year to pardon the agents, said Congress and the American people have "repeatedly expressed their outrage that such an injustice has been allowed to occur."
"These agents were convicted solely on the testimony of the drug dealer, who has since been indicted on federal drug charges for running drugs into the United States while serving as a federal witness," Mr. Hunter said. "Most disturbingly, he did so with border crossing cards he obtained for his cooperation."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Is 12 years long enough for you?
But unfortunately Ramos and Compean won't be on the list.
Bush pardons drug dealers, not those who shoot them in self defense.
“They did know that the van came into this country illegally. The van set off an alarm as it crossed into this country.”
You haven’t even bothered to read the transcripts, have you.
They might even get to be the guests of honor at the next White House Ramadan dinner.
Okay. How bout we agree when we say “pelvis” we mean “pelvic bone”?
“Do you know how our court system works? It is not the job of the legislature to determine criminal sentences. That is the job of the courts.”
Hmmm. So you’re saying of congress were to pass a law saying a 10 year mandatory sentence was required of anyone convicted of using a firearm during the commission of a felony, that would be unconstitutional or a violation of the separation of powers?
Amazing post...lol
What is shotpolitics FR username?
/sarc, or is it?
They did know that the van came into this country illegally. The van set off an alarm as it crossed into this country.
“Hmmm. So you’re saying of congress were to pass a law saying a 10 year mandatory sentence was required of anyone convicted of using a firearm during the commission of a felony, that would be unconstitutional or a violation of the separation of powers?”
No. I am saying that any new law would still have to go through the courts because the courts are who determine sentencing in criminal cases. The new law can say what you suggested it say, but Ramos and Compean would still have to go back to court. Not only that, but any future cases would still be decided by the court as to what the intention of the law was and sentence according to their interpretation.
Of course if the judges have any reading comprehension skills they will come to the same conclusion as to the interpretation and will sentence accordingly.
Bull crap. We answered, we challenged, you ducked.
And an attempted “cover up” while their damn supervisors were there as they picked up casings. AN administrative fine at best.
Too bad they did not flatline the druggie. Would have saved them from Sutton and his kneepadders.
WHich is an even bigger mystery, since their supervisors were there after the incident.
That crime, cover up, if it even ocurred, was a slap on teh wrist. Instead some dumb prick of a prosecutor decided to be the first in the country to try to use a law that adds 10 years to a sentence. Complete and utter misapplication.
The problem is, the constitution prohibits ex-post facto law. You can't make it retroactive--at least no one has provided any rationale how to get around that. BobJ claims that BillyBob told him in a private freepmail it can be done by "undeclaring" the law. But CBB he did not respond to several pings asking him to address what seem like obvious limitations (how can you "undeclare" the law for Ramos and Compean and not the others convicted under the same law? Yet BobJ continues to spam the threads stating authoritatively (with no support) that it can happen if only Hunter or someone else writes a bill.
It’s called blowing smoke. Out his arse.
Just wait til they start reporting on his interests in alternative energy firms that will benefit from his space-program-like spending spree!
LOL! You just keep makin this stuff up, doncha? Fractured his pelvis? NOT! As to "lodged," are you familiar with the meaning of palpable?
12 A. Surgically, we made an incision over the area where you 13 could palpate the bullet -- it was very superficial -- and 14 removed it.
I thought you said the jury hardly paid attention to what OAD said?
I'd love to see sources for both. I won't hold my breath.
I suggest you visit your doctor instead. ;-)
Actually, the bullet fractured the right pubic symphysis and severed his urethra. "Shattered" was not part of the testimony--that was the prosecutors inflated claims in her opening statement (among many lies) that the bullet "shattered the pelvic bone." No matter, it was a nasty injury.
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