Bush Commutes Sentences of Two Border Agents Convicted of Shooting Drug Dealer

AP ^ | 1-19-09 | DEB RIECHMANN

[E.G.C.]

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...................."

[WalterSkinner]

..long LONG overdue--but thank the Lord it happened...

[PhilDragoo]

Aldrete-Davilos' mother said he always worked armed. "Good Friend" Sutton went with the mule over the mother and the officers of the law.

Now-imprisoned ("framed whistleblower")former Customs (customscorruption.com) John Carman told me on the phone, "They picked up their brass!" John, the Feds who framed you were out to guarantee the free flow of drugs at market prices--you know, like your years of investigations showed.

Sutton concealed A-D's conviction from jurors--who said later they would not have convicted knowing the truth.

Report? Supervisors' job--and supervisors were on-scene.

Two more months of outrage.

Felons? And the fines stand and the years of probation stand and the conviction of course stands.

Sutton immunized A-D for his million-dollar load--what the heck, we're getting a SecTreas who burned us for 34K and an AG who okayed pardoning someone who burned us for 400M.

Unarmed and in the spotlight, having to report for three years--quick, how was Barry Seal tapped.

Sutton's a slimer, down in the gutter with A-D. The chilling effect was accomplished.

Our president has not conceded anything except that a whole lot of Americans sent him a whole lot of emails, faxes, phone calls, called their congressmen and senators, got out on the corner with signs.

We now need to watch out for the safety of Jose and Ignacio. Will the bloody beheaders of A-D's industry allow them to breathe any more oxygen than absolutely necessary.

There still stands the matter of our military men slandered and persecuted in parallel fashion.

The watch is kept.

[WOSG]

Yep, some at the DU are gnashing their teeth “they should have gotten life sentences”

They are vile and meanspirited. Those DUmmies want to be soft on terrorists but hard on law enforcement officers who arguably did nothing more than make a mistake (or do their job).

Thank you PResident Bush for finally listening. Why didnt you do it 12 months ago, hmmm?

[Arizona Carolyn]

Well, someone did break into one of their houses and even beat their dogs.

[Mr. Mojo]

Alright, finally some good news. Now Johnny Sutton should be fired immediately and prosecuted for aiding and abetting illegal aliens.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Hi back DC.. yes excessive — I have no idea where I came up with obcessive... at any rate I am fine with a commutation; they can still press forward with appeals to clear their names, though I doubt out system is going to allow them to prevail in that regard.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Hi back DC.. yes excessive — I have no idea where I came up with obsessive... at any rate I am fine with a commutation; they can still press forward with appeals to clear their names, though I doubt out system is going to allow them to prevail in that regard.

[STE=Q]

“Bush didn’t pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive...”

I have called for a pardon AND an apology.

I suppose we will have to settle for Ramos and Compean’s sentences being commuted.

We wouldn’t want to ‘upset’ Jorge’s Mexican ‘buddies’ south of the border — would we?

I hope Ramos and Compean can sue to have their good names restored.

STE=Q

[SunkenCiv]

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... 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.

[JLS]

Bush did exactly what he should have. But it was not a split second decision to cover up as shooting as a government official.

The sentence invoking the firing a gun statute in this case was wrong. But we can not have civilian government agents shooting people and then failing to report that.

[bigheadfred]

We’re calling it.

[freema]

Oh God, isn’t there tomorrow?

[rodguy911]

I saw the entire last half of Beck's show it was simply awesome.,p> If he keeps the show at that level every day he has a sure winner.

When he first started talking to Sarah and they mentioned about their kids with downs you knew you were in the midst of greatness. Both Glen and Sarah Truly great Americans who will help shape the future of the country.

It was great show.

[rodguy911]

How do criminals who have done jail time like Alcee Hastings from Fla. get into the House of Reps.?

[bigheadfred]

Freepmail. My Bro is doing a local TV interview right now. There is still hope. Fading, but hoping.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Bush finally gets something right.

Half right.

Should have been a pardon. Typical Bush, minimal loyalty to the guy (wrongly put) in jail and a finger in the eye of those that "brung him to the dance".

This commute/non-pardon just lowers Bush even further in my eyes. I certainly wouldn't fall on my sword for him.Because he is not:

Loyal:
1: unswerving in allegiance: as a: faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government
b: faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due
c: faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product
2: showing loyalty

[gost2]

About damn time !

My opinon of the man just went up 25%. That puts him at about 27% positive.

[Arizona Carolyn]

He and Sarah have a bond in common and he always gets emotional when he talks about her and his own special needs child in the same sentence; yes I look forward to his show every afternoon now.

[gost2]

You bushies just REFUSE to see the whole man. If you give him Pos numbers for all he has done right and neg numbers for his horrendous failings he comes out with a very low number. Barely positive. He IS the GOPs Jimmuh.

We have a Rat controlled nation because of him and HIS GOP.

[freema]

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/stevens/story/660080.html