Posted on 05/28/2014 5:24:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Andrew Tahmooressi, 22, was arrested for driving into Mexico with firearms
A U.S. Marine Corps reservist who had been living in San Diego will remain in a Mexican jail after firing his attorney.
Andrew Tahmooressi, 22, was expected to testify before a Mexican judge during a court hearing Wednesday. Instead, he fired his attorney. Now the case is up in the air.
On Monday, Tahmooressi's mother Jill told NBC 7 that her son said his attorney had instructed him to lie under oath. Tahmooressi was arrested April 1 after driving his black Ford pickup over the border at San Ysidro into Tijuana. Family members said Tahmooressi, who was in possession of three U.S.-registered firearms, got lost near the border after dark and took a wrong turn into Mexico.
It is illegal to bring guns into Mexico. He has spent the last two months in Mexican custody, first in Tijuana then in Tecate.
Tahmooressi came to San Diego in March for treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The Marine reservist, originally from Florida, has served two tours in Afghanistan.
The Marine has gained the support of elected officials, including Rep. Duncan Hunter, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sen. Marco Rubio. His family has also started a White House petition asking for his release.
Last week, Tahmooressi’s mother told NBC 6 Miami that she was told Secretary of State John Kerry had discussed her son’s release during a recent trip to Mexico. Before Wednesday's hearing, the U.S. State Department released a statement outlining the government's efforts to help the Marine:
The Department of State takes seriously its obligation to assist U.S. citizens abroad, and stands ready to provide all appropriate consular services to U.S. citizens in need. The U.S. Consulate and U.S. Embassy have talked to numerous Mexican officials regarding Mr. Tahmooressi’s case, including the authorities at the prison and the Mexican Foreign Ministry. On May 6, the Embassy discussed the case with senior officials of Mexico’s Office of the Attorney General. Secretary Kerry also raised it during his visit to Mexico on May 21. Consular officers have visited Mr. Tahmooressi eleven times since his arrest on March 31. We have raised any concerns we might have about his treatment with the appropriate authorities.
In a 911 audio recording from the night Tahmooressi was arrested, the Marine told the dispatcher he had driven into Mexico by accident.
Tagmooressi: “Ok, yeah, I was hoping that there would be a turnaround point, but there never was." Dispatcher: “There’s a turnaround point before you get across the border."
Andrew: “Yeah, but now where I was. There was no turnaround point.”
Dispatcher: “Well, that means you were, well, way far down then. Unfortunately, you’re on Mexican soil. There’s nothing we can do. I apologize.”
Tahmooressi’s supporters are scheduled to rally for his release at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in San Ysidro near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Yep.
It wouldn’t surprise me if a private organization gets his release before our lazy assed pResident will do anything.
I had a friend that got thrown in a Mexican jail for fighting in a bar.
He got out by handing the jailer $200.00 cash he had in his boot. True story.
Plus actually control the border with zer0 tolerance.
Does anyone have any info as to how many US citizens are serving time in Mexico prisons?
I’ve looked but can find no data that is current. I found something from back in the early 2000
era that mentioned over 600 in prison. I have no idea if that is even close to being accurate.
That would be entertaining. And righteous.
Piss on obama. We Americans can change this.
Why has not all tourism to mexico stopped? That’s all it would take.
Including one trip in and out earlier the same day. If that's true, then I have to wonder what he's been up to.
Yeh I hope that’s not true. Who would be stupid enough to do that though?
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