Lame duck surprise: Bush commutes sentences of Compean/Ramos

By Michelle Malkin  •  January 19, 2009 01:17 PM

It’s a shocker from the open-borders Bush administration. The families must be extraordinarily relieved. They’ve been through hell:

On his last full day in office, President Bush commuted the sentences of two former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug runner in 2005.

The imprisonment of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean had sparked outcry from critics who said the two were just doing their jobs. They had been sentenced to 11- and 12-year sentences, respectively.

Their prison sentences will now expire on March 20 of this year.

The two were sentenced in connection with the shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, who was shot in the buttocks while trying to flee along the Texas border. He admitted smuggling several hundred pounds of marijuana on the day he was shot and pleaded guilty last year to drug charges related to two other smuggling attempts.

(via Fox News)

Compean and Ramos will be released March 20, via Allah.

***

Flashback: Not so “nonsensical,” anymore. October 2006:

On Monday, Les Kinsolving asked Whitehouse spokesman Tony Snow about the case of the two Border Patrol agents who appear to have been railroaded by our own government. He specifically asked whether Bush would give them a pardon. Here’s Snow’s response:

“That’s an unanswerable question, Les. The president is the person who is responsible for pardons. You can tell the network, which made you ask that question, that it is nonsensical.”

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Posted in: Immigration

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Comments


  1. #101
    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:55 pm, Common Sense said:

    It’s about time but it should have been a full pardon. In fact, it should never have happened in the first place.

    I hope they write book “How We Were Railroaded By the US Government” and make millions.

  2. #102
    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:57 pm, torabora said:

    Meanwhile, thousands of tons of drugs continue to flow into America by land, sea, and air from Mexico each year. Hundreds of thousands continue to sneak across our border North each year. A low grade war continues right on our border between the corrupted weakened Mexican government and narco-terrorists. Each day rape and murder is practiced on both sides of the border by Mexican criminals. Our prisons overflow with their criminals who come here to pillage our society. Their illegals drive on our highways drunk and murder our citizenry. Their criminal elements own turf in our cities. Major areas of our territory have become ersatz Mexicos. Each day stolen American cars, trucks,and construction equipment on trailers wait on our borders in long lines going South to travel there unmolested by American law enforcement. Their police drive stolen American cars. Billions of American $$$ are spent to combat a losing war against the sickness spreading north.

    Each day our sovereignty is diluted and diminished by this lawlessness and failure to uphold our Constitution by our elected officials.

    It is the decay of our nation in full view of the world. It is to our shame and our peril that we allow our politicians to ignore these crimes against our people.

    If there was any justice in this world our next military adventure would be directed towards liberating Mexico.

  3. #103
    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:58 pm, MajorKen said:

    I would buy their book!

  4. #104
    On January 19th, 2009 at 4:04 pm, Pidge said:

    The patrol officers are commuted. THe drug runner is pardoned. Still doesn’t sound fair.

  5. #105
    On January 19th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, Mister P said:

    Amen brothers. Sorry you had to go through hell just to protect our country.

  6. #106
    On January 19th, 2009 at 4:13 pm, redpeach said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:57 pm, torabora said:

    Meanwhile, thousands of tons of drugs continue to flow into America by land, sea, and air from Mexico each year. Hundreds of thousands continue to sneak across our border North each year. A low grade war continues right on our border between the corrupted weakened Mexican government and narco-terrorists. Each day rape and murder is practiced on both sides of the border by Mexican criminals. Our prisons overflow with their criminals who come here to pillage our society. Their illegals drive on our highways drunk and murder our citizenry. Their criminal elements own turf in our cities. Major areas of our territory have become ersatz Mexicos. Each day stolen American cars, trucks,and construction equipment on trailers wait on our borders in long lines going South to travel there unmolested by American law enforcement. Their police drive stolen American cars. Billions of American $$$ are spent to combat a losing war against the sickness spreading north.

    Each day our sovereignty is diluted and diminished by this lawlessness and failure to uphold our Constitution by our elected officials.

    It is the decay of our nation in full view of the world. It is to our shame and our peril that we allow our politicians to ignore these crimes against our people.

    If there was any justice in this world our next military adventure would be directed towards liberating Mexico.

    Best comment of the day.

    But if we actually held up our border laws, how would Hollywood get its coke and dope?

  7. #107
    On January 19th, 2009 at 4:24 pm, walterc said:

    I hope both these guys write books and make a kabillion dollars on the talk show circuit telling America how our government sold them out.

    Maybe a movie of their story of being railroaded to prison by Johnny Sutton for doing their jobs.

    Maybe they can get hired by the producer of that new homeland security TV show as expert consultants. Then we can see some realistic reality TV from the Dept of Homeland Insecurity.

    New DHS Motto: Border Security, the one job that Americans are no longer willing to do.

  8. #108
    On January 19th, 2009 at 4:44 pm, huhwhat said:

    As they say, half a loaf is better than none. At least they will not be behind bars.

  9. #109
    On January 19th, 2009 at 4:44 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    Praise G-d for this miracle….

    I hope Ramos and Compeoan go after the thugs (both the gov’t and the drug dealer) for this travesty of justice!

    The amount of hell and grief that these guys, and their familes went through, no amount of money will ever be able to compensate for that. The sad thing is if they did write a book, count on the only folks buying it would be conversative-patriots since the left has more respect for drug dealers than cops.

    GSP 8)
    “This is Sparta!”

  10. #110
    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:07 pm, oldbuckaroo said:

    Should have been a full pardon, but this is better than nothin’.

  11. #111
    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:14 pm, laggarticus said:

    Hallelujah! Somebody over there at PJTV should give them a helluva job offer or something – they deserve a lot better than what they’ve gotten by oing their jobs!

  12. #112
    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:27 pm, havok said:

    At least they get to go home to their families….

  13. #113
    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:31 pm, Wade said:

    Half assed solution, great ending for this President. Clearly describes his legacy.

  14. #114
    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:50 pm, Mark Jaquith said:

    The good news is that these criminals will never work another day in law enforcement, having proven themselves to be untrustworthy trigger-happy liars.

  15. #115
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:05 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:50 pm, Mark Jaquith said:
    The good news is that these criminals will never work another day in law enforcement, having proven themselves to be untrustworthy trigger-happy liars.

    Wow…are you on the wrong thread!! Are you an open border supporter?

  16. #116
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:14 pm, Gorebot said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 5:50 pm, Mark Jaquith said:
    The good news is that these criminals will never work another day in law enforcement, having proven themselves to be untrustworthy trigger-happy liars

    I’ll bet you lock your doors when you go to bed at night. This makes you a boarder control “freak”.

    Why is it you would deny your country the very same privilege you practice for yourself every night?

    Answer: You hate America.

  17. #117
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:21 pm, Senator Phillip Buster said:

    Bush is still a disgrace. they NEVER should have been prosecuted in the first place. and they certainly should have gotten a pardon now, to wipe clean their records.

    but no, Bush still wants to kowtow to the Mexican govt, and he still wants to protect his buddy, US atty. Johnny Sutton, that dishonest hack who withheld material evidence about the scumbag illegal drug runner from the judge and jury.

    I am glad they are getting out, but this should have NEVER happened, save for Bush’s disgraceful pandering to illegal foreign invaders.

  18. #118
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:24 pm, kcnut said:

    Thank god they will be free. I hope they appeal the case and they win.

  19. #119
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:28 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:52 pm, greenfairie said:

    I figured a commutation of their sentence would be more likely and politically more expedient than a full pardon (we will have to wait for a President Palin or Jindal before that happens).

    I, too, am ready for 2012.

    ECS

  20. #120
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:28 pm, Wellsy said:

    A pardon would have been great but I’m still glad these men won’t have to spend any more time behind bars. Justice is served, and I hope these men are able to lead decent lives from here on out. Those who think they are trigger-happy criminals just don’t get it, and I’m not sure they ever will.

  21. #121
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:31 pm, Senator Phillip Buster said:

    the only “untrustworthy, trigger-happy liars” in this case are the fed prosecutor, and border patrol honchos like Aguilar who rushed to judgment and then covered up the actions of the illegal alien scumbag drug runner to hide the truth from the judge and jury.

    I fully trust guys who are risking their lives to protect us from foreign invaders. I DO NOT trust bigshots who dishonestly use their public office mgmt. jobs to curry favor or votes by stabbing the American people and this nation’s law enforcement frontline troops in the back.

  22. #122
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:45 pm, love2rumba said:

    Frankly Bush’s legacy will be “don’t get too close to this guy and help him, because he won’t help you (Libby, conservatives, the NRA, border patrol etc. comes to mind), but when it comes to his enemies the fool just sits there and smiles.. completely overwhelmed by his self-created ecstacy of ‘bi-partisanship’ and ‘one-worldness’”.
    This guy worked for himself at the expense of conservatives.

    I’m willing to wager that had there been zero prominent democrat outcry over Ramos and Compean, that Bush would not have done anything.

    Conservatives gave Bush II their political capital and he squandered it. end of story.

  23. #123
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:46 pm, love2rumba said:

    When Ramos and Compean write a book about their injustice I, too, will be in line to get it….

  24. #124
    On January 19th, 2009 at 6:59 pm, mikeg said:

    bout freakin’ time!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. #125
    On January 19th, 2009 at 8:23 pm, revGDright said:

    Was the sentence outrageous? Yes.
    Should it have been commuted? Yes.
    Should they be let out today? Yes.
    Should there be a full pardon? No.

    I’d almost rather have drug dealers in my neighborhood than dishonest cops.

  26. #126
    On January 19th, 2009 at 9:01 pm, travlinman said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 8:23 pm, revGDright said:
    Was the sentence outrageous? …
    I’d almost rather have drug dealers in my neighborhood than dishonest cops.

    I do not believe that Ramos and Compean were dishonest cops. Nothing was charged, or proven, concerning personal gain through graft or corruption. That is what constitutes a dishonest cop.
    I believe they were just pawns caught in a political game of appeasement.

  27. #127
    On January 19th, 2009 at 9:18 pm, rightisright said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:55 pm, Common Sense said:
    I hope they write book “How We Were Railroaded By the US Government” and make millions.

    If they do, I’ll buy one for sure.

  28. #128
    On January 19th, 2009 at 9:22 pm, mattm said:

    Good. Better late than never.

  29. #129
    On January 19th, 2009 at 10:08 pm, rightisright said:

    On January 19th, 2009 at 3:57 pm, torabora said:

    Well said tora, guess we can thank Mr. Bush for that.
    I lose more respect for GWB on a daily basis. He should not of tried to change the tone in Washington instead read the U.S. Constitution and do as it says.

  30. #130
    On January 19th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, Cathy B said:

    I was so very relieved to hear that on GW’s last day in office he commuted their sentence, I too wish they would have been pardoned. [sigh] Ramos’ Father in law was on JD Hayworth’s radio program (KFYI in Phoenix) apparently while his daughter and grandchildren were visiting Ramos on their weekly visits recently, their house in TX was broken into, furniture sliced up, photos off the wall, insignificant stuff was taken, weird. They don’t know if it was mexican drug cartell or mischevious teens. JD told him that the men have alot of supporters in Phoenix and we’d welcome them w/open arms!

  31. #131
    On January 20th, 2009 at 1:42 am, PhredE said:

    Cathy B – Also, both Ramos’ and Compean’s wives were on The Glenn Beck show today (first day on Fox Network) they appear near the end of the hour. They also described the break in of the house. Glad to hear JD is still on the subject down there.
    … Just FYI.

    Common Sense, rightisright, etc. – maybe just a pipe dream, but how about a Jerome Corsi accounting of Ramos and Compean’s story? I think he’d do a good job AND he’s (and other WND writers) have followed developments in the subject matter fairly well in the last couple of years.

  32. #132
    On January 20th, 2009 at 3:25 am, frontierguy said:

    I came out of my self inflicted news vacation today just for this story. A friend of mine filled me in on the slobbering done on Obama, and I don’t think I can take another homoerotic news piece coverage of this man. Uggh, I needed a vacation.

    You know, I am unsettled by the break in of the Ramos’ home. I never thought that these agents should not have been punished, but the sentence was disproportionate considering how well the drug smuggler was treated. The thing that bothers me is that the gas was left on. This was attempted murder of the Ramos family. Why? It makes me wonder if there was something dirty going on. I don’t want to play devil’s advocate, and as always innocent until proven guilty, but it makes me go hmmmm. Oh well, that is just my take.

  33. #133
    On January 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    You know, I am unsettled by the break in of the Ramos’ home.

    The Ramos family is an embarrassment to the Mexican gangs-drug and coyote, open border advocates-white and Mexican and to the biggest Texas thug of all Johnny Sutton. That Agent Ramos was put into a gang unit and allowed to be beaten unconscious at the Yazoo Federal Prison speaks volumes of the power of that “US Attorney”. That Agent Ramos lived is a testament to the courage of several Federal Bureau of Prisons guards but an end to advancing their careers.

    But make no mistake about it: these Mexican gangs-both local and cross border-have no qualms about attacking anybody-citizens, witnesses, police IN THIS COUNTRY. Both Arizona and Texas law enforcement are trying to fight them. The Feds, New Mexico and California are all terrified of being labeled racist if they come down too hard on the lads.

    Ramos and Compean were dishonest cops?

    That too speaks volumes. But Johnny Sutton is a cleaver liar who shields drug dealers to facilitate Open Borders. One Arizona Country tried to mollify the reconquista crowd by charging a local cop with murder. Jury said no.

    At least Ramos and Compean get to come home but Mr. Bush had to get one more slap in and make them wait until March. Oh well, these two men did not come from money and go to Yale, did they? Perhaps if they we Saudi Oil Princes and funded terrorist Mr. Bush would be kinder.

  34. #134
    On January 20th, 2009 at 9:10 am, misterbee241 said:

    I suspect they didnt get a full pardon from Bush because Bush didnt want to “dis” his old friend Johnny Sutton. I suspect and this is just opinion, Sutton had some input to Bush on this case. I also suspect if Sutton had said “pardon” it would have been so.

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