Bush Commutes Sentences of Two Border Agents Convicted of Shooting Drug Dealer

AP ^ | 1-19-09 | DEB RIECHMANN

[E.G.C.]

WASHINGTON – In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.

Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting, was welcomed by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. They had long argued that the agents were merely doing their jobs, defending the American border against criminals. They also maintained that the more than 10-year prison sentences the pair was given were too harsh.

Rancor over their convictions, sentencing and firings has simmered ever since the shooting occurred in 2005.

Ramos and Compean became a rallying point among conservatives and on talk shows where their supporters called them heroes. Nearly the entire bipartisan congressional delegation from Texas and other lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle pleaded with Bush to grant them clemency.

Bush didn't pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive and that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations, a senior administration official said.

The action by the president, who believes the border agents received fair trials and that the verdicts were just, does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes, the official said...................."

[SueRae]

Good!!!!!

[gilor]

NICE!!!!

[oldbrowser]

commuted

[Parley Baer]

Excellent.

[BigFinn]

Thank you President Bush.

[geologist]

Good for him.

I was getting worried he was going to miss the opportunity to do so.

[Tarheel]

Bush commuted the sentences not pardoned, but still good news

[silentknight]

Even a broken clock........

Bush finally gets something right.

[johnnycap]

Thank God...now blanket pardon the administration, clap a little and fly to Texas!

[Servant of the Cross]

Woo Hoo!

[Drew68]

Commuted, not pardoned. They’re still convicts but it’s better than nothing.

[ErnBatavia]

Great....making this whole “transition” fiasco a bit easier to stomach.

[FES0844]

Listening to Rush...just heard it on the news.
Thank you Lord. This is great news!

[pattty]

Thank you President Bush!

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Whohoo!!!!!!!!!

[theDentist]

FINALLY! But he should have done it IMMEDIATELY.

[ilgipper]

Thanks to President Bush. Whether these men are guilty of doing wrong or not, this punishment was absurd and way too severe. They have a difficult job and split second decisions should not ruin lives.

[jedgarlives]

No so. He even managed to screw this up. Commuted sentence not a pardon. That still means they are convicted felons.
Clock is still broken.

[AuntB]

I just heard on radio that Bush commuted their sentence ....can’t believe it!

[lilylangtree]

Our Commander in Chief doing a positive thing on Gen. Robert E. Lee day—makes for celebration.

[Vaquero]

at least they can fight their conviction from the comfort of their homes.

[E.G.C.]

Yep, it's posted on Fox News' web site as breaking News.

As mentioned on another post their sentences were commuted.

[Born In America]

At this point, better late than never. It was a fiasco from the get-go. Bush did not do this because of his convictions, he knew he could not leave office with such a wrong in place.

Had he the sense of justice, he should have done it 18 months ago. Who says he did not feel the impact of polling data....

[King of Card Games]

Thank God.

Suck it open borders people.

[08bil98z24]

That still means they are convicted felons.

They still committed a crime. Commuted works for me, they do not deserve to be in jail, BUT they still did abuse their power by filing a false report ... Law enforcement/border enforcement is something they never deserve to be EVER again.

[SueRae]

I just hope and pray that President Bush leaves John Walker Lindh to rot.

[NavyCanDo]

I haven’t checked yet, but you can bet there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth over on the DU.

[I see my hands]

Yet BDSers retain their stench.

[nutmeg]

Commuted, not pardoned. They’re still convicts but it’s better than nothing.

That's right... I'll take it. Ramos and Campion will be out of prison.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BUSH!!! (Although he should've done this immediately)

[Liberty Valance]

Thank you President Bush.

[King of Card Games]

I don’t care if they are pardoned or commuted, just glad they’re out of jail period. And I am sure they are both too.

[Calpernia]

ping

[peace with honor]

praise GOD

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[mockingbyrd]

I totally agree. They did commit a crime, but their sentence was way over the top. I think commuting their sentences was just.

[Lazamataz]

Wow!

About freakin time.

[ladyvet]

Thank you President Bush!

[Grunthor]

Thank you, Mr. President.

[eleni121]

Better late than never.

Long overdue.

[dirtboy]

At least with Bush, the agents didn’t need to be Marc Rich enough to get their sentences commuted.

[Boiling Pots]

This saves them a couple of yrs in prison, not much else.

Bush is a disgrace.

[gidget7]

YES!!!!!!!!!

[Chris DeWeese]

Commuted = free without guns to protect themselves. It’s a heck of an upgrade, but my wife’s reaction isn’t fit to print.

[MNDude]

awesome!!! He just went up a little in my opinion!

[CounterCounterCulture]

Ohmygosh! They’ve been on my mind all weekend!

[upsdriver]

Thanks for the ping!

Thank God, way over due on something that should never have happened in the first place. At least now Ramos and Compean can get back to their families.

[nutmeg]

Campion should be Compean

[CounterCounterCulture]

Incredible. I just heard a blurb at the top of the hour from somebody not to expect any big name pardons. This is certainly big!

[jehardy]

Finally, I’d about given up!