Posted on 02/01/2007 10:31:30 AM PST by calcowgirl
Long-awaited incident reports regarding the case of two convicted El Paso Border Patrol agents were delivered to Congress on Monday evening but have been classified secret from the general public.
The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investment and Oversight obtained the report after submitting an emergency Freedom of Information Act request for the documents.
Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, said he will not review the classified documents until they are made available to the public. Poe expects a redacted version will be made available soon.
"I want to read what the public will get to read," Poe said. "The real question regarding this case is, why did the federal government spend so much money to prosecute these Border Patrol agents and give full immunity to a known drug smuggler with more than $1 million of marijuana in his vehicle? I'm anticipating the report, but I don't suspect it will answer the question."
After five months of delays, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General delivered the documents pertaining to the case of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, who were convicted last March of the nonfatal shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said last week that Homeland Security Inspector General Richard Skinner refused to deliver what he had promised House members since September.
McCaul was one of the first House members to have the classified report but he cannot speak on the contents of it.
"The only people who can view the report are the members of Congress," said Jack Hirschfield, spokesman for McCaul. "Within the next few weeks we will get a redacted report that the public can view."
Reps. John Culberson, Kenny Marchant, McCaul and Poe - all Republicans who represent Texas - said Skinner told them during their meeting last fall that Ramos and Compean had confessed to knowingly shooting at an unarmed suspect and that they "were out to shoot Mexicans."
Ramos and Compean are now serving 11 and 12 years, respectively, in federal prison. The drug smuggler, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, is suing the U.S. Border Patrol for $5 million.
What border security for crying out loud?!!!
Why is this document classified?????? Other than documenting how this country is being overrun by illegal aliens across an open southern border, what part of it concerns national security? This just wreaks of cover-up!
I think John and Ken may have that wrong:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776900/posts
The report is being viewed by select members in what's known as the "SCIF" — the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility — and is not allowed to be removed.
Bump! Question of the day.
You funny!
I would expect that specific data regarding the tactics, equipment and communication capabilities of our border enforcement services coupled with intimate details of border control procedures would be useful to groups that want to sneak something far more dangerous than a van full of landscapers over the border.
I will have to see if it is on their web page. They were talking about that room, thought it was a funny "lets be spies" kind of name.
I could be wrong, though.
Still, why is it redacted for the public, why is the trail transcript sealed for a year? The whole thing stinks.
The question is NOT about border security, illegals, or drugs. The question should be did these agents commit the crimes that a jury thought they did?
Hey! Sandy!!!!
Do we have a job for you, guy.
Paging Mr. Bergler. Paging Mr. Bergler
Um, the jury has spoken.
What Congress thinks is an opinion. What the jury thinks is a verdict.
The prosecutor didn't risk this. Congress is.
Certain Congressmen are hoping that by exploiting this case for its grandstanding value they will get some political mileage that could possibly further their aspirations to other national offices.
So, do you think that all Border Patrol agents should be able to shoot anybody they want at the Border? Cause if we are a Nation of Law, the only way these two can get away with what they did, is to have a different set of rules just for them.
It could be a cover-up, in which case the classification was misused.
Or it could mean that Aldrete-Davila was a snitch who was being protected while he got to have fun and make money.
And unfortunately, he gets shot by a couple of agents who aren't in on the deal.
Of course, since he seemed like an ordinary border crossing, pot smuggling, people killing illegal alien to them, they reacted normally to such swine when he made a few bad moves: they shot his butt.
Be interesting to see where this falls.
Duncan Hunter was on Cavuto this afternoon. He said he's read the trial transcript and is very unhappy these guys have been sentenced for more time than someone usually gets for murder in this country.
Interesting, he read the transcripts and is no longer questioning the felony convictions.
After reading all the updates in the last few days, not sure what to believe anymore.
If its true, the smuggler was caught a second time with more dope with no mention yet of a Weapon and then Sutton got rid of this incident. The BP agents need to set free.
Need the AG to give immunity to the BP agents families so they can discuss those items covered by the gag order.
As time goes by, will anyone trust a prosectuing attorny?
Sounds like he's joined the sane people again. I think most of us would agree that, given the evidence we have been able to see, the guys shouldn't be in prison for that long.
Although I'm pretty sure that I'd be upset if a murderer wasn't in jail for longer than 11 years, as well, so it isn't just that they got too harsh of a sentence, it's that others get off too easy.
I wonder if there is parole offered under their sentencing?
I wonder if Bush could pardon them on the one count which added the 10 years, thus essentially reducing their sentence?
Prediction: these poor devils will be put away for many years, just like the Branch Davidians.
The real truth will NEVER be known.
The next president will appoint Ex Senator Danforth to investigate, he will come back with another whitewash. All the details will be hidden under the old "national security" rug.
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