McClatchy: Feinstein, Cornyn urge Bush to free imprisoned Border Patrol agents

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/18143.html

Feinstein, Cornyn urge Bush to free imprisoned Border Patrol agents
By Dave Montgomery | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — Sens. John Cornyn and Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday joined the ranks of lawmakers urging President Bush to release two Border Patrol agents sentenced to more than a decade in prison, each for wounding a Mexican drug courier.

Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Feinstein, a California Democrat, called on Bush to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, saying the two imprisoned agents received overly harsh sentences and were victims of a "prosecutorial overreach."

Their request came one day after the two senators participated in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine the controversial case. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton of San Antonio, Texas, whose office prosecuted the two agents, was a key witness at the hearing and defended his handling of the case.

"That hearing confirmed the concerns raised by many members of the public: that this penalty levied on these agents is excessive and they deserve the immediate exercise of your executive clemency powers," the two senators told Bush in a letter.

A group of Republican House members also has called on Bush to commute the sentences or pardon Compean and Ramos, echoing the demands of predominantly conservative grassroots advocacy organizations that are rallying behind the two agents. Pressure for the agents' release escalated after Bush commuted the sentence of convicted former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

more...

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. They shot the guy in the back and covered up evidence

I don't have a lot of sympathy for these guys. Maybe Boxer knows something I don't. :shrug:

[babylonsister]

2. Or Feinstein? :o) I'm not familiar

with this case, so don't know the particulars, other than Lou Dobbs bleating about it. I recall some anger, but need to review why they're in jail in the first place.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Oops I meant Feinstein

One of my little RW boards has discussed it to death. They caught a drug dealer at the border, he ran away and they shot him in the back. Then they cleaned up the crime scene.

[babylonsister]

7. The article said he was shot in the buttocks, and yes, he's stil fleeing.

"Ramos and Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison respectively after they were convicted on more than a half-dozen charges in the shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila on Feb. 17, 2005. Aldrete-Davila was shot in the buttocks as he fled from the agents after abandoning a van loaded with marijuana. He escaped across the border but later re-emerged as the key witness against the two agents."

I really need to shut up, because I haven't read much about this. Seems like a lot of charges were filed, but then why is Feinstein supporting this? She's not that dumb, or is she?

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. My friends who live in California don't like her

but they are rather progressive.

[Solon]

3. If thier sentences are commuted, or they are pardoned, it just proves that some victims are more...

valuable than others, and means there is a blank check for law enforcement officers to shoot to kill for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.

[TwilightGardener]

4. They wounded a fleeing drug courier, and they get more than 10 years in prison?

Sounds like they did their jobs. I can understand why folks would side with them. The sentence sounds too harsh.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Yes all cops should shoot criminals in the back as they run away!!

:sarcasm:

[TwilightGardener]

8. 10 years, though? That's a little much. I can see probation, a year or two, but 10?

I tend to side with law enforcement, myself--it's a tough and dangerous job, with critical snap decisions to be made that can literally be life or death for those involved. Seems like a harsh sentence for taking a scumbag down.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. What's the sentence for attempted murder?

[TwilightGardener]

11. Well, without knowing all the facts, I'd have a hard time calling it attempted murder.

Poor judgment, maybe.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. They shot a guy in the back

Their poor judgment could have gotten this man killed.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Well, I for one, wouldn't weep.

[MagickMuffin]

12. If anyone is interested I posted about yesterday's hearings from another article

It explains a little bit more details about the case.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1373573&mesg_id=1373573

END THE DRUG WAR NOW