Pres. Candidate Duncan Hunter speaks out for Compean & Ramos
Some In Congress Working To Keep Two Border Patrol Agents Out Of Jail
And two former U.S. Border Patrol agents scheduled to go to prison next week for doing their job shooting a Mexican drug smuggler given immunity by the U.S. Justice Department. Some in Congress are furious.
CNN/Lou Dobbs Tonight aired 1/10/2007
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Texas congressman Ted Poe led a group of lawmakers demanding the Justice Department not oppose a request that former Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos remain out of prison while their convictions for shooting an illegal alien Mexican drug smuggler are appealed. As we've reported, Ramos and Compean received 11 and 12-year sentences, while the Bush administration gave the wounded, allegedly unarmed drug smuggler, immunity from prosecution. REP. TED POE (R), TEXAS: And our federal government had the choice to make of being on the side a drug dealer who was bringing in a million dollars worth of drugs, or the side of two border agents that apparently were just enforcing the rule of law.
WIAN: Among issues expected to be raised during the agents' appeal, the grant of immunity and other benefits given to Oscar Aldrete-Davila, who was caught again smuggling an even bigger load of dope into the United States. And allegations of jury misconduct.
Texas federal judge Kathleen Cardone (ph) is expected to rule later this week on the agents' request to remain free until the appeal is heard.
REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: " In this case, we'll have two of our best Border Patrol agents put in confinement with the very people that they brought to justice.
That's like sending our soldiers or our Marines who have been -- who have been prosecuted into a confinement with al Qaeda."
REP. WALTER JONES (R), NORTH CAROLINA: I am very, very disappointed in the indifference by this White House as it relates to these two men and their families.
WIAN: Under their current bail agreement, Ramos and Compean are not allowed to appear together. Compean spoke for both.
JOSE COMPEAN, FMR. BORDER PATROL AGENT: Speaking for my fellow agents continuing to hold the line, I want to thank you, the American people, for all of your support.
WIAN: More than 220,000 Americans have signed petitions demanding the former agents be pardoned.
http://transcripts.cnn.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLUS This horrible story! All CULTURES are NOT the same! We have enough of our home grown criminals to find!
http://www.fox10tv.com/global
|