Jo’s Cafe

Senators Grill Prosecutor of Ex-Border Agents
By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
July 18, 2007 (CNSNews.com) - Looking for a word to describe a prosecutor’s controversial actions that helped put two former U.S. Border Patrol agents in prison, a senior senator Tuesday settled on “overreaction.”

Overreaction my ass - try “witchhunt”.

The hearing was called to examine the prosecution and imprisonment of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. The two are serving jail terms of 11 and 12 years, respectively, for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler in the buttocks and then covering up the February 2005 incident.

Other senators joined a chorus of criticism against Sutton, who brought the case after offering a deal to the Mexican, Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, he returned to the United States to testify against the two agents in court.

[...]

The panel also focused on the conviction for discharging a firearm while committing a crime, an offense carrying a mandatory sentence of 10 years. It was one of 12 charges brought against the agents and a key factor in the length of their sentences.

Senators from both parties on the committee contended the statute is not intended for law enforcement officials who use their weapons while doing their job.

“There was no criminal intent [on the part of the agents],” argued Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). “Indeed, the intent was to create a lawful society.”

Bush commuted Libby’s sentence, its time these agents were pardoned.

clipped from www.cnsnews.com