Bush commutes sentences of former US border agents
One of outgoing President's last acts, Bush frees men convicted of shooting Mexican drug dealer
Associated Press Monday, January 19, 2009
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. The former border guards in El Paso, Texas, are expected to be released from prison within the next two months.
"After four years of fighting this, it's taken a toll on me and my daughter, and really the whole family," said Joe Loya, Ramos' father-in law, who has received tens of thousands of supportive e-mails and spent much of the past two years traveling the country to speak about the case.
He said his daughter, Monica Ramos, called from New York after learning the news that her husband was to be released from a federal prison just outside Phoenix.
"She could hardly speak," Loya said.
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 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.
Compean and Ramos, were convicted of shooting admitted drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks as he fled across the Rio Grande, away from an abandoned van load of marijuana. The border agents argued during their trials that they believed the smuggler was armed and that they shot him in self defense. The prosecutor in the case said there was no evidence linking the smuggler to the van of marijuana. The prosecutor also said the border agents didn't report the shooting and tampered with evidence by picking up several spent shell casings.
The agents were fired after their convictions on several charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and with serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights and obstruction of justice. All their convictions, except obstruction of justice, were upheld on appeal.
Compean and Ramo were sentenced to 12 years and 11 years in prison, respectively. They each also were fined $2,000 and sentenced to three years of supervised release. Under the terms of Bush's commutation, their prison sentences will expire on March 20, but their three-year terms of supervised release and the fines will remain intact.
With the new acts of clemency, Bush has granted a total of 189 pardons and 11 commutations.
That's fewer than half as many as Presidents Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan issued during their two-term tenures. Bush technically has until noon on Tuesday when President-elect Barack Obama is sworn into office to exercise his executive pardon authority, but presidential advisers said no more were forthcoming.
The president had made most of his pardon decisions on low-profile cases, but his batch in December created controversy.
Isaac Robert Toussie of Brooklyn, N.Y, convicted of making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and of mail fraud, was among 19 people Bush pardoned just before Christmas. But after learning in news reports that Toussie's father had donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Republican Party a few months ago, as well as other information, the president reversed his decision on Toussie's case.
The White House said the decision to revoke the pardon a step unheard of in recent memory was based on information about the extent and nature of Toussie's prior criminal offenses, and that neither the White House counsel's office nor the president had been aware of a political contribution by Toussie's father and wanted to avoid creating an appearance of impropriety.
In an earlier high-profile official act of forgiveness, Bush saved Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, from serving prison time in the case of the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. Libby was convicted of perjury and obstructing justice. Bush could still grant him a full pardon, although Libby has not applied for one.
Clinton issued a total of 457 in eight years in office. Bush's father, George H. W. Bush, issued 77 in four years. Reagan issued 406 in eight years, and President Carter issued 563 in four years. Since World War II, the largest number of pardons and commutations 2,031 came from President Truman, who served 82 days short of eight years.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kenedeno Media<KenedenoNews@gmail.com> Date: Sun, Aug 12, 2007 at 12:45 AM Subject: [The Essence of Acquiescence] Dear Lou Dobbs, Last week LULAC & the American G... To: kingalonzoalvarezdepinedaXIII@gmail.com
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Posted on January 18, 2009 at 03:12:40 AM by Jaime Kenedeño
"I usually get my stuff from people who promised somebody else that they would keep it a secret."
This entry below from a "CC Guerilla" definitely one of those "IN THE KNOW". "CC Guerilla" a follower of our legal odyssey focused on the Modification of JOB Opportunities and the Manufacturing of Prosecution of the Little People.
>Why hasn't anyone gone after Filemon personally as a way to derail Rose? >If you go to www.fec.gov and follow the instructions on finding out who >gave to whom, how much, and when, then load up Filemon Vela as an >Individual Search you'll see he's made significant contributions to two >notorious politicians. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Senator Robert >Menendez (D-NJ). Hunter is an undicted coconspirator in the very same mess >that sent ex-rep "Duke" Cunningham's#####to prison recently, and Menendez >is currently under federal investigation for shady real estate dealings by >renting a building he owns to a non-profit and pocketing $300, 000.00 in >taxpayer subsidies.
The Velas are strictly personal with me for reasons of >>>>>extreme hubris on their parts. There's a rather simple story >>>>>associated with all of this and it's one of an extremely cruel act on >>>>>their part that I witnessed and in no way involved me beyond being a >>>>>spectator. And it was at that time that they got on my #### list. >>>>>That he's a spoiled brat millionaire and she's a jurist and both with >>>>>political agendas is purely coincidental. I only want to teach them a >>>>>lesson. Be nice to everybody...because some people won't give a #### >>>>>who or what you are and will come after you. That's what guerillas do >>>>>kingal...go after the bigger bullies of the world. >>>>> >>>>>Another coincidence is that I would appear to be an unpaid, unknown and >>>>>coincidental campaign worker for Hinojosa. I'm not. I'm about as >>>>>apolitical as they come. My own personal view is that we've long (if >>>>>ever it was the case) passed the time when getting the right person in >>>>>office is a viable solution. To me, it's not so much of getting the >>>>>best person in...but keeping the worst asshole OUT. I'm just that >>>>>simple man.
* There is no excuse for violating the basic human rights afforded under the United States Constitution. * How many kids were locked up by a court of nonrecord? * Not even with a parent's consent unless the parent has been given the opportunity to consult with counsel. * How many children taken into custody were advised of their Miranda Rights? * Oh yeah, Plaisted and every CCISD kid for whom, he provided service
Whether by Political Targeting (to suppress election participation / engagement) or in retaliation to my past involvement in the Politics of South Texas, blatant acts of abuse of power, use (abuse) of Official position to strike blows in political expediency and exaction of personal vendettas, the violation of Civil Rights and the taking of Liberty by unauthorized process (lacking Jurisdiction) in direct violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure / Due Process Assurances by confining parents and children where the statutes clearly define punishment and sanctions to be by fine only and not by confinement. These words by fine only and not by confinement are words the South Texas Judiciary continues to work diligently to keep out of the record and hushed from the Public Citizenry.Why would we shut up now?
I believe in you. I believe you can not only stand up against the grain for the little people but also with your passionate diligence and diplomacy achieve the goals set out by actually getting the grain to align and go with you (and your belief in the little people).
I know Joe Ortiz the man and will go to bat for his team any day of the week and twice on Sunday. In supporting Joe I have only good to speak of his incumbent opponent. In his other opponent, I speak of greatness in the endeavors of a man who has worn the hat of the RTA well and honorably. The main idea in this race is, both of Joe's opponents have had their opportunities and have delivered a success only limited by those in opposition to them; I believe Joe will gather the opposition and in unison they will all fly one way. I believe this is the case and I believe we need to give somebody else an opportunity to wear a hat as a community leader.
