BUSH/ASHCROFT REWARDED MIAMI INS DIRECTOR WITH PROMOTION TO REGIONAL DIRECTOR POSITION

Judicial Watch ^ | April 11, 2002

[FreedominJesusChrist]

For Immediate Release

Apr 11, 2002

Press Office: 202-646-5172

BUSH/ASHCROFT REWARDED MIAMI INS DIRECTOR WITH PROMOTION TO REGIONAL DIRECTOR POSITION

Robert Wallis Admits “Proudest Moment of His Life” Was When INS Agent Held Shotgun To Peaceful Protester’s Head During Illegal Raid On Elian Gonzalez’s Family Home In Miami’s “Little Havana”

(Miami) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, took the sworn testimony of Robert Wallis today, wherein the former Miami INS director revealed that he was selected for promotion to Regional INS Director and transferred to Texas in April 2001, under the Bush Administration and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Wallis admitted, under examination by Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman, that the “proudest moment of his life” was captured in an Associated Press photograph of INS Supervisory Special Agent Gwenn Reed holding a shotgun to the head of a prone and “spread-eagle” protestor – Mario Miranda – during the illegal INS raid to return young Elian Gonzalez to Communist Cuba. Mr. Miranda is a retired Miami police officer and was responsible for safety and security around the Gonzalez home. Wallis’ testimony came during a Merit Systems Protection Board hearing for INS whistleblower and Judicial Watch client Rick Ramirez. Mr. Ramirez “blew the whistle” on anti-Cuban and anti-Hispanic bigotry in the Miami INS office, as well as INS supervisors’ orders to destroy all documents and computer records concerning the Elian Gonzalez saga. Earlier testimony from INS attorney Diana Alvarez confirmed that the orders to destroy documents and records came from INS Commissioner Doris Meissner.

Wallis confirmed that he was aware of Mr. Ramirez’s whistleblower disclosures, and of the pervasive anti-Cuban and anti-Hispanic bigotry in the Miami INS office.

Judicial Watch, as counsel for Special Agent Ramirez, has made repeated requests for over one year to Attorney General Ashcroft, asking that he take action in this matter.

“It is shocking that rather than take steps to clean out the Miami office of anti-Cuban and Hispanic prejudice, that instead Ashcroft and his Bush administration rewarded, with a promotion, the district director responsible for the prejudice. This shows insensitivity to the rights of Hispanics,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Look, I voted for George W. and even volunteered for him during the 2000 election, but that doesn't mean that I like everything he does. Recently, I have been beginning to regret my vote for him.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

You both asked to speculate on the internal affairs of Judicial Watch's spending habits. I am not qualified to do this, as I have no inside information on their organizational procedures.

[Howlin]

You stated some financial facts and then proposed a speculative interpretation of spending decisions within Judicial Watch. Your condemnation of the organization started with your speculation Howlin.

Deport, perhaps you should post the "object" of my "speculaton." Perhaps if she sees it herself, she'll have second thoughts as to whether it's just my opinion. Especially since Larry Klayman signed the form.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Miss Marple, as I have stated before:

Of course Bush and Ashcroft cannot know EVERYTHING that goes on internally within government bureaucracy, but because of this, that gives them an even greater responsibility to appoint compentent people to those positions. Obviously, this did not happen, and you instead choose to blame Larry Klayman, one of the only people around fighting for Justice for the Cuban-Americans whose rights have seriously been infringed by the Federal Government.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Why don't you just leave Larry Klayman out of this and instead address your problems to the entity of Judicial Watch?

[Clara Lou]

useful arguments besides personal attacks
A "personal attack"? On whom? It has been demonstrated that this release by Klayman is inaccurate-- deliberately misleading, in my opinion-- a tactic Larry has used more than once.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

You are the one that called him a "bottom-feeding lawyer," of which he is actually the antithesis of.

[Clara Lou]

Larry Klayman IS Judicial Watch. How can you leave Larry Klayman out of it? It's impossible.

[Howlin]

I know you know this because I have seen other people tell you this: Larry Klayman IS Judicial Watch.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Larry Klayman founded Judicial Watch and is the current Chairman. There are many other people that make-up Judicial Watch besides Larry Klayman. Tom Fitton is also a big part of the organization, along with the other lawyers, press reps, research assistants, etc.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Yes, you told me this before. But you should know that it takes more than one person to run an organization.

[Howlin]

but that doesn't mean that I like everything he does. Recently, I have been beginning to regret my vote for him.

That sounds all high and mighty, unless one knows that you fail to hold Larry Klayman and Judicial Watch to the same standards you hold Bush, too. And Klayman certainly doesn't hold himself to that standard either.

[Howlin]

Nobody moves at JW without Klayman telling them to.

[Miss Marple]

You are not understanding. When Bush was inaugurated, he submitted a list of people to fill positions. The Senate was very slow to confirm them (and some have yet to be confirmed). Until these people were confirmed, the Clinton people remained in their positions. The Clinton person approved this promotion. Ashcroft had nothing to do with it. The Clinton person is now gone and there is a new deputy AG, but the promotion stands because of civil service.

Please do not be obtuse. You are acting like this was their responsibility, when it was simply something that was done before the Clinton person left office.

What part of this are you not understandiing? Bush has nominated responsible people, BUT THEY WEREN'T YET IN PLACE WHEN THIS HAPPENED!!!

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Larry Klayman and Judicial Watch have never let me down and have always made good on their promises. They never stop fighting for what they believe in or cave into the powers that seek to destroy and discredit them. I appreciate this and have followed them since high school.

George W. on the other hand, has let me down numerous times.

[Saundra Duffy]

I miss little Elian and think about him every day. Poor little guy. Probably given a chemical labotomy to keep his little trap shut.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"Nobody moves at JW without Klayman telling them to."

And I suppose that Larry tells them when to breathe too. Some people feel that they can talk with expert knowledge even though they have no idea what they are saying.

[deport]

Why don't you just leave Larry Klayman out of this and instead address your problems to the entity of Judicial Watch?

Does Larry Klayman work for JW or is he employed by JW. Is he Chairman of the Board? Does the Board vote on or approve his $250,000+ yearly Salary? I think Larry Klayman is an intergal part of Judicial Watch, don't you?

[Miss Marple]

George Bush is so far above Larry Klayman in the honesty and character scale that Klayman looks like an ant next to an elephant.

Bah! I am always accused of being a Bush-bot, but you are far more gullible than I am.

[Howlin]

Larry Klayman and Judicial Watch have never let me down and have always made good on their promises.

So you're satisfied with mediocre lawyers and misleading press releases, playing fast and loose with the truth, and spending $23,000,000 of the money they collected for court cases on something else? Good to know. Not much else to discuss with you.