[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Ramos and Compean Lose 5th Circuit Court Appeal Written by Ann Shibler Thursday, 31 July 2008 10:45 In a fresh outrage, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has rendered a 46-page decision upholding the convictions of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. All convictions were affirmed except those for tampering with official proceedings, which has been remanded for resentencing. In his opinion Judge E. Grady Jolly (a Reagan appointee) wrote: We leave the major conviction with the major sentence
untouched. He continued, The underlying crime of violence with which the defendants were charged is assault within the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Once the defendants were charged by the government and convicted by the jury under this statute, the district court had no discretion but to impose at least a ten-year sentence. Court observer Edd Hendees analysis raises some concerns. Being present at the December 2007 hearing Hendee says this overly late decision which should have been rendered in 60 days, not eight months is not compelling and contains conflicts of common sense and clear intent of the law. Hendee recorded these observations back at the December 2007 hearing: Regardless of their sentiments back in 2007, the court has raised a red flag with their opinion, and by not agreeing that the defendants should have been able to introduce evidence of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davilas second alleged drug-trafficking incident in October 2005 (months after the February 2005 incident.) And regardless of their own 60-day goal for reaching a decision, the black robes eight-month hiatus could also be viewed with great suspicion, given that their previous statements are contradicted by their conclusion, that: Heartbreakingly, Ramos and Compean remain in solitary confinement, their wives and families devastated emotionally and financially. Unless enough pressure comes to bear on the White House, this stomach-wrenching affair may never be righted. Pardons and commutations are political and not based on merit. So, even with top republicans now demanding a commutation, the White House continues to sidestep the issue. When Sen. John Cornyn approached White House spokeswoman Dana Perino on the subject, she responded: "There is a process in which people in our country can ask a president of the United States for a commutation of their sentence and that process can take place if those individuals want it to." How likely is a presidential pardon? The answer: not very. While the president found time to pardon his pal, Scooter Libby, and to contemplate pre-emptive pardons for administration officials in the increasingly unlikely event Congress might demand accountability for wrongdoing in the areas of torture and illegal wiretapping, he is unlikely to get around to pardoning officers Ramos and Compean. Petitions for commutations are submitted to the Justice Department for investigation and review, but the Justice Department is presently two or three years behind in authorizing the first step of investigations. Meanwhile, the most egregious perversion of the American legal system in recent memory remains, a mockery of the idea of justice.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 12.
#10. To: farmfriend (#0)
I understand that the guy who got shot was an illegal but, unless I am mistaken, they guy was also unarmed and was running away from the 2 heroes. Also, there was no way for the 2 heroes to know that the guy running from them was in illegal. What if he was an American? How comfortable is everyone with the idea of uniformed G-men shooting unarmed civilians in the ass?
You just cited the government version. They gave him immunity to lie under oath.
I believe that the guy did get shot in the ass, didn't he. Someone shot him. Is there any doubt as of who did the shooting? On the 'whom' R&C shot and why... hmmm... is it okay to shoot someone you don't know IN THE BACK (ass) while the guy is unarmed and running away from you, just because you are 'the authorities'? What was the Mex guy going to do while he had his back turned at them and running? Fart in their general direction? Of course, the 2 are pawns, the products of a police state culture. Remember the guy killed by 'the authorities' as he was running away from them, probably frightened by their sexy black overalls and dark glasses? His guilt was that of being a bit mentally unstable and did not COMPLETELY freeze when 'the authorities' commanded him to do so.
#13. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#12)
He should have been shot in the head with R&C given an immediately promotion.
Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest |
||
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
[Register]
|