Rohrabacher, Hunter call for agents' pardon

Wash Times ^ | 1/17/08 | Jerry Seper

[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."

[calcowgirl]

Would have saved them from Sutton and his kneepadders.

And saved us, too! :-)

[pissant]

IF only.....

[Pelham]

That’s ok. The thread quickly declined when Pinocchio showed up to cheer for Johnny Sutton.

[Pelham]

Which is hard to do with his head in the way.

[calcowgirl]

Did you say Pinocchio? ;-)

[Pelham]

That’s the boy. I wonder if he dresses like that for Johnnie.

[calcowgirl]

I think that is Johnny Sutton’s weekend outfit. ;-)

[curiosity]

Commutation of the sentence, not a pardon.

Wow. We actually have some Freepers who are sane about this issue! My goodness.

[Pelham]

I’ll bet they are a cute couple.

[Cyropaedia]

What's the use of Congress rewriting the statute when the prosecutor has already taken it upon himself to rewrite it for them....?

The way Congress actually wrote the particular statute coupled with rulings from both the Appellate & Supreme Court(s) make it very difficult for any prosecutor to just prosecute any LEO that becomes overzealous in the apprehension of a criminal.

Again, this is precisely why Sutton changed the wording of the statute.

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[Tennessee Nana]

There was no coverup...

The bosses of R & C were right there with them...

[wolfcreek]

“I can tell you this, there is no way I could shoot myself with a .40 caliber Beretta at close range and keep that bullet inside my body.”

You could be right about that although, bullets do strange things when they hit bone. Let’s leave it at that and assume the ballistics report provided to the court leaves no doubt.

These guys at least deserve a new trial with different lawyers. (that is if Sutton wants to put his ass on the line)

[wolfcreek]

“How does your Glock have no safety?”

Once a bullet is chambered in a Glock, the gun is ready to fire. There is no mechanical safety although the trigger has what they consider to be a safety feature. It’s my Wife’s gun so, you might want to ask someone more familier with that feature.

[wolfcreek]

BTW: It’s a Glock 19 9MM

[Congressman Billybob]

No, I did not say that Congress could "undeclare" the law. Nor can Congress issue a pardon. What Congress CAN do, is to pass a law saying that "no federal money shall be spent" to keep these two agents in prison. Such a law is pending, and if passed, it would force the Bureau of Prisons to free the two men.

They would still be guilty. The law would still be there. But the two agents would be free. The cleaner result would be a presidential pardon, of course.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "Snow, Ice, and Lame Tom"

A Freeper in Congress? Please act now.

[Sal]

ROTFLMBO after reading your #120 to flattorney:One more thing, don’t even think about going after me. This thread along with your ABOUT PAGE is being sent to my litigation attorney who will be getting off a nice note to your law firm.

Did flattorney threaten you or is that PARANOIA I smell? And here I used to suspect you were just trying to protect a labor source that could be paid slave wages.

[Sal]

From all indications, this sentence will be overturned at appeal. Perhaps then we won’t have to have these silly discussions over the details which don’t matter. What matters is Johnny Sutton charged these agents under a law he knew full well was not intended for and he had never charged any other LEO with.

I totally agree with you except that I hope the conviction is overturned instead of just the sentence. That would leave the way open for crony hack Johnny Sutton to be subjected to the Nifong treatment he deserves--hopefully with similar results.

[nicmarlo]

...I hope the conviction is overturned instead of just the sentence. That would leave the way open for crony hack Johnny Sutton to be subjected to the Nifong treatment he deserves--hopefully with similar results.

And that was be called sweet justice.

[Bob J]

Sorry, i didn’t know exactly what you were referring to.

Once that law is passed, all R&C attorneys need to do is go to a Federal judge and have them issue an order for their release.

Simple as that.