Bush commutes sentences of former Border Patrol agents

[Knife]

Heard this on the TV, but MSNBC doesn't have it on their site yet so; you get a CNN link.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On his final full day in office, President Bush issued commutations for two former border patrol agents convicted in 2006 of shooting an undocumented immigrant who was smuggling drugs at the time.
An artist's sketch shows Ignacio Ramos, left, and Joe Compean.

The prison sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Joe Compean will now end March 20.

Ramos had received an 11-year prison sentence; Compean had received a 12-year sentence.

"The president has reviewed the circumstances of this case as a whole and the conditions of confinement and believes the sentences they received are too harsh and that they, and their families, have suffered enough for their crimes," a senior administration official said.

"Commuting their sentences does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes. Ramos and Compean are convicted felons who violated their oaths to uphold the law and have been severely punished," the official stated.

"This commutation gives them an opportunity to return to their families and communities, but both men will have to carry the burden of being convicted felons and the shame of violating their oaths for the rest of their lives."

The official noted that both Democratic and Republican members of Congress have supported a commutation, including President-elect Barack Obama's incoming White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, and Texas GOP Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn.

A lot of right wingers will be mad that it's not a pardon, but yeah, I'm good with a commutation.

[Kanastrous]

About fucking time.

I guess their offenses weren't considered serious enough by this White House, to merit quicker attention.

[Gil Hamilton]

About fucking time what? They attempted to beat up a man who was attempting to surrender to them, shot him in the backside when he fled, and then lied about the entire incident in an attempt to cover it up. The guy was an undocumented immigrant, sure, but that doesn't give you open season on them. There is no doubt the guy should have been arrested, that's for sure, however what the border patrol officers did does warrant a jail cell.

[Kanastrous]

That's not consonant with what I remember reported.

I'll re-read up; maybe my enthusiasm is misplaced.

[Invictus ChiKen]

A lot of right wingers will be mad that it's not a pardon, but yeah, I'm good with a commutation.

My understanding via the Right Wing Grape Vine is they didn't want a pardon as they want to win there appeal. A pardon means they'd still be considered guilty.

[Knife]

A lot of right wingers will be mad that it's not a pardon, but yeah, I'm good with a commutation.

My understanding via the Right Wing Grape Vine is they didn't want a pardon as they want to win there appeal. A pardon means they'd still be considered guilty.

Nah, a pardon wipes it clean, a commutation takes the prison time out but leaves them 'guilty'.

[Alyrium Denryle]

A lot of right wingers will be mad that it's not a pardon, but yeah, I'm good with a commutation.

My understanding via the Right Wing Grape Vine is they didn't want a pardon as they want to win there appeal. A pardon means they'd still be considered guilty.

Nah, a pardon wipes it clean, a commutation takes the prison time out but leaves them 'guilty'.

I think he means for the purpose of precedent. If they win on an appeal the trial "never took place" in a bizarre legal sense. Not only are they no longer considered guilty, but the trial itself and whatever laws allowed the reversible error are considered invalid.

[Invictus ChiKen]

I think he means for the purpose of precedent. If they win on an appeal the trial "never took place" in a bizarre legal sense. Not only are they no longer considered guilty, but the trial itself and whatever laws allowed the reversible error are considered invalid.

Yeah! Yeah! That is the thingy ma doodle! Thanks!

[Bilbo]

Alot of the support from these guys seems to stem from the fact that the shot a drug dealer in the butt. When they shot the guy did they know he was a drug dealer? Or is this after the fact justification? Reading a bit it says that they found him in a van filled with marijuana. What it does not say is if they found the dope before or after they shot the guy.

[Sea Skimmer]

Alot of the support from these guys seems to stem from the fact that the shot a drug dealer in the butt.

I think its mainly because the US government didn’t prosecute the guy they shot at all, and instead let him walk free in the US on a visa while he testified against them. At least that's what I recall stirring up outrage on a couple forums at the time.

When they shot the guy did they know he was a drug dealer? Or is this after the fact justification? Reading a bit it says that they found him in a van filled with marijuana. What it does not say is if they found the dope before or after they shot the guy.

I’m pretty sure they already had found it, which is why the guy ran. Also, it was 800 pounds of pot, it’s pretty unlikely the officers could have come within 25 feet of the van and not smelled the stink out of hand.

[Edward Yee]

A lot of right wingers will be mad that it's not a pardon, but yeah, I'm good with a commutation.

My understanding via the Right Wing Grape Vine is they didn't want a pardon as they want to win there appeal. A pardon means they'd still be considered guilty.

This actually reminds me of the Marines who chose not to plead it down in A Few Good Men.

A commutation is of the sentence and does not affect the conviction or felon status; the pardon does affect the latter (and felon status), but the only way to have been de facto innocent would have been to have been declared not guilty... which, if I recall, a pardon doesn't do.