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Bush commutes sentences for 2 Border guards

 

DEB RIECHMANN | January 19, 2009 01:04 PM EST | AP

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.

 

Compean and Ramos, who have served about two years of their sentences, are expected to be released from prison within the next two months.

 

They 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.

 

With the new acts of clemency, Bush has granted a total of 189 pardons and 11 commutations.

 

 

I guess better late than never

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This news made my day!!!

 

Mine too - should have been done long before now!!

Agreed....... personally, I don't feel that Bush should have to commute a sentence at all... there shouldn't have BEEN a sentencing!!! Just another fine example of how a criminal has all the rights. :poke: The guy was a drug-smuggling illegal alien for goodness' sakes!!! (or, as certain politicians like to describe it... an "un-documented worker" :thumbsup: )

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I'm totally happy about this, as well!

 

But please remember, they weren't convicted of shooting the guy, they were convicted of a cover-up and not following proceedures....which, they were guilty of.

 

Now, why they covered it up is due to the rediculous regulations the border patrol has to follow, and I personally think they were completely justified in the shooting. But they did tamper with evidence, and lie about it. Things which all of us would be screaming for jail time about if Daley did it.

 

But again, I'm glad they're out, and I thought any jail time was way harsh and politically motivated in this case.

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