Posted on 05/14/2007 6:32:07 AM PDT by radar101
WASHINGTON — Internet cartoons show him with horns and the word "TRAITOR" branded on his forehead. Conservative talk radio derides him as "Johnny Satan." At least two Republican congressmen, normally staunch defenders of the Bush administration, have castigated him on the House floor.
If the White House and Justice Department had added Johnny Sutton to the list of federal prosecutors to be fired, his ouster probably would not have raised an eyebrow among Democrats, and it would have pleased much of the president's conservative base.
Sutton is the U.S. attorney in west Texas. Based in San Antonio, his border district reaches to El Paso. For five years he has been the top federal lawman in one of the nation's busiest regions, a job he long dreamed of having. It also is one he secured with deep ties to President Bush and Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales, going back to their time in state government in Austin.
The uproar is over his prosecution of two U.S. Border Patrol agents for the February 2005 shooting of a fleeing Mexican drug smuggler near El Paso, a shooting the agents tried to cover up. Last year, Sutton's office won convictions against Agents Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean.
Each was a line officer in what many people consider a hopeless chore: trying to hold back a deluge of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Each is a father of three. And each was sentenced to more than a decade in prison: Ramos to 11 years, Compean to 12.
"This was a serious, serious crime," Sutton said trying again to calm the anger on the political right. "It is a serious crime when law enforcement officers shoot at somebody, shoot him in the back as he's running away, and then cover up the crime."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
This guy is a waste.
Political protectionism at it’s best...
I think people need to get all the facts before deciding what and who is a waste. I disagree with the prosecutor giving immunity to the crooks to testify. But I also disagree with shooting people in the back unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Sutton blew it on this case. Any dreams he had of ever running for elective office are certainly gone. Guy probably isn't even a good credit risk anymore.
Ever been in that area or come upon an illegal drug runner who runs, turns and points something at you.....extenuating enough for you?
Sutton was on talk radio down here in Houston a few days ago.
He made a good case for himself, until of coarse he was confronted with evidence that he intentionally kept details suppressed that would have changed the nature and outcome of the cases against our border patrol and law enforcement officials he prosecuted dramatically.
He’s a political hack championed with keeping the borders open by intimidating our brave men and woman that protect the border with litigation.
ping
Aaaah, you’re another FReeper from that part of the country I’ve never been to, where there’s no difference between the back and the butt.
""It is a serious crime when law enforcement officers shoot at somebody, shoot him in the back as he's running away..." snip..
Sutton doesn't know his back from his backside..And what he said proves it.
The illegal alien drug smugger was NOT shot in the back.
sw
“smuggler”...oops.
His bank accounts and personal life might hold the key. Does he have a mistress connected to the drug traffic? Has he received large financial gifts? Does he even have wife and children and if so, do they have connections with drug runners or terrorists? Is he on medication? Has he been treated for drug abuse? Or maybe he himself in part of a drug cartel.
F Sutton and F his boss Albert Gonzalez who could have stopped the Compean& Ramos prosecution with a phone call.
Most Americans consider drug smuggling and running extenuating circumstances.
We are experiencing an American government-assisted invasion/colonization from third world dumps for the first time in history.
There will be many more shootings before this thing is over.
Gonzalez is from this area...I’m sure he is involved in this somehow.
Maybe ol johnny satan will have Karma pay him a visit....I’d find it funny if he were hit (by a vehicle) by an illegal alien, that happened to be a mule! Man should have to have some serious pain in his life for the crimes he’s been busy commiting. Don’t think so? Ask Ramos or Compean, or Gilmer Hernandez how their lives are.
“the Mexican Drug Cartels”
I have a friend who’s brother is an attorney in W. Texas. He’s retiring a 50 due to the number of cases he’s represented involving drug runners and dealers. They pay the lawyers more money (mostly cash) than is normally required and usually get off.
Very interesting. Just one phone call from DC (Albert Gonzalez) and Johnny Sutton would not have prosecuted Ramos and Compean. This is called prosecutorial discretion
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