Why are there no Dems fighting for the pardon of the 2 Border Agents

[napi21]

who were sent to prison after shootinga drug dealer? I just saw another post on Raw Story quoting a GOP Rep. who said if either of these guy in prison, there will be impeachment talks around here.

I don't understand why we are only hearing from Pubs on this?

[AX10]

1. My Take:

I don't support the "war on drugs".
I am for a secure border.

I am also between the two sides on this one. As you may know, whenever a legitimate use of force case comes up, I will always take the side of the civilian because we live in a free society. I am anti-authoritarian.

[alarimer]

2. Because they BELONG in prison

They shot a guy in the back as he was running away. They do not deserve a pardon. The Republicans are all over this because the person they shot was an illegal who, in their minds, are not even human.

[wakeme2008]

3. There are other threads and the Jury found these guys guilty

for shooting an unarmed man. That is BS about him being a drug dealer, that came out later.

[waiting for hope]

4. I heard last night on Lou Dobbs

is that they are waiting for this to play out some more - the impression I got was that they were letting them eat their own. I think they should speak out, the main message is that it's okay to be a drug smuggler and make deals with the DA.

[ret5hd]

20. You should read more and watch Bigot Dobbs less. (nt)

[spanone]

24. Dobbs has been crazy over this....Crazy.

[Marie26]

26. Has he been defending this?

I don't watch the show - but how could even Dobbs justify this?

[Jim Sagle]

5. Because they shot a guy in the back?

[atreides1]

6. Because the 2 agents broke the law

"According to the attorney general's office, he and his partner fired fifteen shots at an unarmed man in broad daylight and failed to report it to anyone instead giving a false report and leaving their victim for dead after removing their shell casings from the scene of their crime."

I don't know about anyone else but I think that a liar, is the most lowest form of life after whale excrement, and a liar with a badge and a gun is even lower then that.

They lied, they tried to cover up what they did, and got caught. Now they get to pay the price that you or I would've paid if we were in their place.

It's called justice and it's supposed to be blind!

[Flarney]

11. Right on...

[Marie26]

25. This is what happens

when people get their information from Lou Dobbs. Convicted murderers become brave patriots defending the homeland!

[mmonk]

34. Interjecting logic?

Good for you.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Why should Democrats want to pardon them? Or do you want everyone

who is convicted of a crime to be pardoned?

[Marie26]

8. Cause they're guilty?

The Republicans are just happy they shot a border-crosser, they don't really care about the niceties.

[zbdent]

28. never mind

ignore.

[Marie26]

29. huh? nt

[zbdent]

32. went to make a statement, realized that it didn't make sense,

and edited it to say "never mind".

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. I must be missing something. Weren't they found guilty?

It must be me.

[Horse with no Name]

10. They shot someone in the back

So unless they could prove he was shooting lightning out of his ass that was endangering their lives, then maybe we can talk about a pardon.
However...I think they should have been protected a little better by the Corrections Department and isolated from the general population because of the gangs.
They didn't receive death sentences and shouldn't receive them by the prison population.

[jus_the_facts]

12. here's the briefing from Snowjob about some of the latest about it.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x159086

[ret5hd]

13. Here's the full story...

http://www.elpasotimes.com/breakingnews/ci_5031310
(sorry, story is now archived)

(If they are such brave defenders of the fatherland, why did they try to hide what they did? Why didn't they repot the incident?)

<snip>
Ramos and Compean were convicted by a jury of violating the civil rights of a drug smuggler they shot in the buttocks in 2005 near Fabens as the man was fleeing to Mexico. They were also convicted of tampering with evidence for not reporting the shooting and for picking up shell casings. The trial lasted more than two and a half weeks.
</snip>

(If they were shot at, why didn't they say so, instead of claiming they "saw" a gun?)

<snip>
Supporters of the agents say the government should not have offered the drug smuggler immunity in exchange for his testimony and should have believed the agents when they said they saw a gun in the drug smuggler's hands.
</snip>

(Apparently, U.S. attorneys are calling these guys LIARS!)

<snip>
The U.S. Attorney's office sent a release today meant to debunk myths they said are circulating around the case, such as "The agents were just doing their jobs."

"An agent is not permitted to shoot an unarmed suspect who is running away," the release says. "There was no credible evidence that the agents were in a life-threatening situation or that (the smuggler) had a weapon that would justify the use of deadly force. In fact, Border Patrol Agent (Oscar) Juárez, who was at the scene, testified at trial that he did not draw his pistol because he did not believe there was a threat. He also testified that Aldrete did not have a weapon and was almost to Mexico when Agent Compean began firing at him."

The U.S. Attorney's Office also addressed the criticism that the government let the drug smuggler go free.

"Because the agents could not identify him, found no fingerprints, could not tie him to the van (full of marijuana) and did not apprehend him after shooting him, the case against (the smuggler) could not be proven," the release said.
</snip>

[Beelzebud]

14. Maybe because border guards are not supposed to be judge, jury and executioner?

[mazzarro]

15. Is it more appropriate to impeach * for border agents than for Iraq war?

The fact that the agents shot unarmed person in the back whether or not the person is illegal or drug dealer is immaterial - in your opinion. So congress should impeach * for the two border agents in jail and not for lying and starting illegal war in Iraq? Well it is interesting that you consider this to be the case.

[Swamp Rat]

16. Is shooting unarmed illegal immigrants in the back part of their job description?

:shrug:

[Richard Steele]

17. Because they don't deserve to be pardoned. Simple.

[RB TexLa]

18. I doubt there are even that many republicans pushing for a pardon for murderers

[TankLV]

19. because they were justly convicted?

Just my "guess" on it.

Read the WHOLE story - THEY shot an unarmed person and then LIED about it.

They are no "saints"...

They got what they deserved...

I'd say they are lucky it's only 11 years...

[ret5hd]

21. Maybe he should pardon these guys too!!! (if they are caught)...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2723159

[napi21]

22. Thanks for all the responses. Something still smells about this conviction.

I understand the unarmed guy statement, but something strange is going on in the justice dept too. Sorry, but I smell Gonzo, and when HE'S involved, thetrue story is rarely known!

[magellan]

23. It is interesting that the DHS has just admitted to misleading Congress about this case

And I don't understand why the drug smuggler was released after being caught bringing more drugs into the US while waiting to testify.

[napi21]

27. Like I said, something smells here!

Something was said on Dobb's show tonight that scares me to death! These boarder patrol agents might have been prosecuted in an effort to helpthe Mexican election! The most frightening thing is,that sounds exactly like Shrub's MO. Dear God,I hope the real truth gets exposed and the perpsget severly punished!

[Pushed To The Left]

35. Check out this thread about Karl Rove:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=168339&mesg_id=168339

I'm a little suspicious about the border guard case myself!

[Catherine Vincent]

30. Please read this official document from the Atty. General in Texas:

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2007/Compean_Ramos_factsheet1.pdf

[napi21]

31. Yes, I read it before. That was written BEFORE the Homeland Security guy admitted to lying to

Congress! People have gone to prison for lying to Congress! Not for purgury, but for making false statements!

I still suspect Gonzo & the US Atty in Tx. had suspicious motives for persuing this case and the admission of the lie seems to support my theory.

We'll just have to wait and see how this all shakes out.

[stewert]

33. Simple

As others have said, the border agents shot an unarmed man as he was running away, this is against border patrol rules. Then they picked all the shell casings up, and tried to cover the whole thing up, and filed a false police report on it.

They had a trial and a jury convicted them, so why should they be given a pardon. Their appeal has not even gone through yet, yet the Republicans want them to get a pardon for a crime they were convicted for.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RULE OF LAW?

Even Bill O'Reilly said a jury convicted them so they should go to jail, he just dont think they should do 10 years, he thinks that is too long. And he said they should be isolated in prison so none of the other inmates can hurt them.