Posted on 02/06/2007 6:18:29 PM PST by calcowgirl
A Department of Homeland Security official admitted today the agency misled Congress when it contended it possessed investigative reports proving Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean confessed guilt and declared they "wanted to shoot some Mexicans" prior to the incident that led to their imprisonment.
The admission came during the testimony of DHS Inspector General Richard L. Skinner before the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, according to Michael Green, press secretary for Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas.
Culberson was questioning Skinner about a meeting DHS officials had Sept. 26 with him and three other Republican congressman from Texas, Reps. Ted Poe, Michael McCaul and Kenny Marchant.
WND previously reported that at that meeting the DHS Inspector General's office asserted it had documentary evidence Ramos and Compean:
2. stated during the interrogation they did not believe the suspect was a threat to them at the time of the shooting;
3. stated that day they "wanted to shoot a Mexican";
4. were belligerent to investigators;
5. destroyed evidence and lied to investigators.
This prompted a startled and angry response from the congressman.
"You lied to me and you lied to all of us," Culberson charged. "Your office tried to paint a picture of Ramos and Compean as dirty cops, and now you come before this committee and tell us you never had the information to back up those claims."
Ramos and Compean began prison sentences last month after their actions in the shooting of a drug smuggler who was granted immunity to testify against them.
Responding to Skinner's testimony yesterday, Poe said it "explains why DHS has been stonewalling Congress."
"DHS didn't turn over the reports to us to back up their September 26 accusations for one simple reason – the reports never existed," the Texas congressman said.
"Why did it take DHS four months to admit their error?" he asked. "I wonder how much more has DHS told the public and Congress about Ramos and Compean that simply isn't true?"
Poe said he's determined to get to the bottom of DHS's claim.
"I expect this new revelation will lead to a lot more questions before we're done," he said.
Andy Ramirez, who has been involved with the case as chairman of Friends of the Border Patrol, told WND the DHS's actions "represent obstruction of justice, and they should be held in contempt of Congress, and, if possible, prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
"This admission today is yet more proof of how they are willing to distort the facts, as I have charged all along, in order to ensure a conviction," he said.
Ping!
How many appeals do you think it will take before they are released for re-trial?
ping
.
While we get to the bottom of another case of prosecutorial misconduct, can we not release these guys on some kind of furlough? They aren't going to run, and they are probably more honest than the guys who prosecuted them.
SOB's
The contest of wills may be getting started.
The question is: Will there be a re-trial, commutation or pardon before the illegals in that Federal prison kill Campos. If that happens, there will be irreparable harm to our ability to get anybody to work in ICE or near the border.
This men who put themselves in harms way to protect Americans need to be set free.
Hannity and combs has Ramos's father in law on right now.
GRRRRRRRR
GOD, DEAL WITH THE TURKEYS VERY EMPHATICALLY, PLEASE.
This is just getting worse and worse.
Inspector General - Richard L. Skinner
Mr. Skinner was confirmed as the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General on July 28, 2005. Between December 9, 2004 – July 27, 2005, he served as Acting Inspector General. He held the position of Deputy Inspector General Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since March 1, 2003, the date that the Office of Inspector General was established.
Prior to his arrival at DHS, Mr. Skinner was with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he served as the Acting Inspector General (October 2002 – February 2003) and Deputy Inspector General (1996 – 2002). From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Skinner served at FEMA OIG as the Assistant Inspector General for Audits. In 1998, he received the President’s Meritorious Executive Rank Award for sustained superior accomplishment in management of programs of the United States Government and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency in the public service.
From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Skinner worked at the U.S. Department of State (DOS) OIG. During his tenure at DOS OIG, Mr. Skinner served as a senior inspector on more than a dozen foreign and domestic inspections and in 1991, Mr. Skinner was appointed by the Inspector General to serve as the “de facto” Inspector General for the Arms Controls and Disarmament Agency (ACDA).
From 1972 to 1988, Mr. Skinner held a variety of audit management positions with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). He began his Federal career in 1969 with the OIG of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Skinner holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Fairmont State College and an MPA degree from George Washington University.
It is, isn't it? Man.
I was pissed before, now even more so. I cannot believe I'm saying this, but when it comes to the borders this administration is as corrupt as any that has come before... or more so.
Ramos' attorney was on BOR tonight about his beating in prison..... I'll say I wish he had better lawyers.
Does anyone know WHY DHS is doing this?
Like so much, lately, this makes zero sense.
Why have the trial transcripts been sealed? Who had them sealed? I understand that there can NOT be an appeal with the trial transcripts sealed, is that right?
Something needs to be done. The CYA political class of both parties is going to be the end of this country.
If the President was smart.... at this point he would ask for the pen to sign a pardon ASAP because this thing is starting to get ugly and Ramos and Compean are not the people looking bad here.
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