Another Round Of Presidential Pardons And Guess Who Didn't Make The List?

[CT-Mike]

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.

Bush pardons man who helped Israel during wartime - Yahoo! News

Well-known names were not on Bush's holiday pardon list. There have been efforts to get Bush to pardon former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, who was convicted in 2000 with four others in a scheme to rig riverboat casino licensing; disgraced track star Marion Jones, who lied about using steroids; Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, former U.S. Border Patrol agents who were convicted of shooting a drug smuggler in 2005 and trying to cover it up; and Michael Milken, junk bond king who was convicted of securities fraud.

Now I don't know the whole story behind this, but if it was a good shoot and they tried to conceal it, then they deserve to be in prison in my opinion. If it was a bad shoot and they tried to conceal it, then they deserve to be treated like any other dog that's gone bad. Again, I don't know the whole story and haven't looked into it.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[JAT40]

In my opinion, from what I have read it was a GOOD shoot on the drug dealer.These two borders agents have gotten the short end.
I'm becoming more and more disappointed in President Bush lately this issue, the bail outs and others have left a real bad taste.

[Cupcake]

I just read that and have to admit that I feel personally sad.

[PaulJ]

In my opinion, from what I have read it was a GOOD shoot on the drug dealer.These two borders agents have gotten the short end.
I'm becoming more and more disappointed in President Bush lately this issue, the bail outs and others have left a real bad taste.

The border agent case has been heavily obscured by popular media (CNN had it almost daily for a while). It was a nice "populist" message of border agents getting convicted while they guys they are supposed to arrest going free. So I don't think at this point, it is clear who should get the blame.

From all the coverage, the bit I got was that they probably took a bad shot "in the heat of battle", and then had an "oh crap" moment that made them cover it up. So they are probably guilty. However, the problem was less what they did, but the way in which it got prosecuted. The prosecution offered deals to illegals and drug dealers, and in the end took their word over the word of the agents.

In short: I can see those two getting a pardon.

Milken and Edwards: Doesn't look right. But the fact that this administration is for sale isn't exactly new.

[EW3]

We can hope that President Bush will do the right thing and commute their sentences just before leaving office in January.

The fact the he hasn't done it yet, though, makes me think this isn't going to happen.

I wonder how this affects Border Patrol recruiting? Knowing that you may be prosecuted under firearms laws for using your issued firearm to do your job.

[Paco]

I know Pres. Bush feels he needs to make the right decision based on his party, but good grief at least commute their sentences to time served if you won't give them a full pardon. Let them go home.

[Pro2A]

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.

Bush pardons man who helped Israel during wartime - Yahoo! News



Now I don't know the whole story behind this, but if it was a good shoot and they tried to conceal it, then they deserve to be in prison in my opinion. If it was a bad shoot and they tried to conceal it, then they deserve to be treated like any other dog that's gone bad. Again, I don't know the whole story and haven't looked into it.

I think he might wait til the last day to pardon them... we can only hope.

[retsupt99]

I know Pres. Bush feels he needs to make the right decision based on his party, but good grief at least commute their sentences to time served if you won't give them a full pardon. Let them go home.

Paco, I agree with you.
I had great disappointment with W's father and now him. I voted for both and have been a supporter even in pressured discussions.
We never know the real facts behind many such cases, and I have heard stories of how the two agents tried to cover up parts of the incident...yada, yada, yada...who knows. I know that they didn't shoot an altar boy.
I certainly feel that they got a raw deal...and now it's time to end their incarceration, they have suffered enough.
I have sent several letters/emails to the President during the last few weeks via "Action Alerts/NumbersUSA"...very convenient.
I urge others to send emails to the President also.

Stay armed...get writting...stay safe!

[matiki]

My Dr. has ordered me to stop paying attention. It's bad for my blood pressure.

[Hopyard]

Paco, I agree with you.

I know that they didn't shoot an altar boy.
I certainly feel that they got a raw deal...and now it's time to end their incarceration,

Yup, they didn't shoot an alter boy. Maybe they did stuff they shouldn't have done, but enough is enough. W should commute the sentence if he can't bring himself to give a pardon.

[Patti]

A subject near and dear to my heart....Ramos and Compeon.

In my opinion, they were Mike Nyfong'd. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton had a choice to prosecute the drug dealer (Osvaldo Davila) or Officers Ramos and Compeon. By the way, one was up for officer of the year and the other is a decorated Naval Officer.

Sutton, of course, chose to prosecute our officers.

There is still time to write a letter. I encourage everyone to send it to:

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the Pardon Attorney
Ronald L. Rodgers
1425 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 11000
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

I have been following the conviction and sentencing of the two Customs and Border Protection Officers, Ramos and Compeon. These two men have already paid a great price for what they did

From a humanitarian perspective, do these men really deserve this type of sentence. It's already a life sentence for their families, for their children. Do they really deserve this?

I am requesting you to have a heart, to use that Christian charity that the President always talks about and commute their sentences. Even Johnny Sutton himself has said that this was too harsh of a punishment.

We owe a great deal of gratitude to Officers Ramos and Compeon for attempting to arrest the drug dealer, Osvaldo Davilla. And just because they picked up the shells, they were given a ten year and an eleven year sentence? My greatest fear is that this has sent a message to all of our CBP officers that if you do your job, you will be prosecuted and your life will be ruined. Not only their lives, but their families too.

We have a problem with drugs in this country. And if we don't stop the drug cartels from smuggling this garbage across our southern border, our problem is only going to get worse.

Officers Ramos and Compeon have been punished enough.

Please allow these men to be considered for pardon. Or, at the least, please commute their sentences.

Sincerely,


Or, you can fax it to:

(202) 616-6069

[agentmel]

I have a friend who works for the border patrol. She says the scuttlebutt is it was a questionable shoot at best. Most people in her office seem to think they deserved to be fired, not spend a decade in jail. At the very least they seem to have violated border patrol policy.

Mel

[Mxyzptlk]

I have a friend who works for the border patrol. She says the scuttlebutt is it was a questionable shoot at best.

They covered it up. It was no accident.

Cops who serve and protect and put their life on the line deserve praise, honor and thanks. Cops who cover up a crime do not deserve pardons.

Power tends to corrupt....

[AutoFan]

They covered it up. It was no accident.

Cops who serve and protect and put their life on the line deserve praise, honor and thanks. Cops who cover up a crime do not deserve pardons.

Power tends to corrupt....

Isn't it kind of hard to cover up a crime when your supervisor and co-workers (who happen to be LEOs) are there when you cover it up?

But ignore all that. Let's prosecute cops by abusing a law that was intended to be used to pile on charges for criminals who prey on law abiding citizens.

Suppose they are cops who serve and protect AND covered up a crime. What do you do then in your black and white world?

[Mxyzptlk]

Suppose they are cops who serve and protect AND covered up a crime.

Suppose?

Covering up a crime is contradictory to serving and protecting.

Let them pay their price. They can be heros or something when they come out. Write a book, movie, personal appearances, the whole deal...

Maybe it'll be worth their poor judgment in the end.