Do you want some meat first, or the massive good news first? Aw, hell, let’s go with the massive good news.
In case you weren’t aware, Tom Tancredo said he was going to introduce an amendment that would
prohibit the use of funds to enforce the judgement of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in the case of United States v. Ignacio Ramos, Et Al. decided March 8, 2006; or the sentences imposed.
This would be attached to H.R. 3093, appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes.
Tancredo did not submit it on Thursday, though, Ted Poe (R-Tx) did! Hooray! But, even better then just submitting
On agreeing to the Poe amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 395 – 34 (Roll no. 731). (taking info from the daily summary at www.house.gov)
Double Hooray! Now they have to get reconciled with the Senate, and get that puppy passed quickly. And President damn well better sign the thing toot sweet! He has already farted around too long with the overall issue, while giving Scooter a commutation of his sentence. He should just go and pardon the agents, give them back their lives. And their jobs!
For a bit of red meat (the good stuff, some filet minion, not that hoof meat the libs love)
(CNSNews.com) – Two Border Patrol agents whose prosecution and sentences to lengthy prison terms triggered a political storm this year may have been charged with a "non-existent crime," according to a legal brief submitted to a federal appeals court in May, and obtained by Cybercast News Service.
Although they were convicted on 11 counts, the crime carrying the lengthiest penalty was for the "discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence," a violation of section 924(c)(1)(a) of the U.S. Code. It carries a minimum 10-year prison sentence.
Cybercast News Service obtained a copy of an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") legal brief filed by Reps. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Virgil Goode (R-Va.), and Ted Poe (R-Texas) in the former agents’ appeal before the Fifth Circuit Court in New Orleans.
They accuse the prosecution of "creating a purported criminal offense never enacted into law by Congress," and of charging Ramos and Compean with a "non-existent crime."
Simply discharging a firearm near a violent crime is not illegal, the brief argued, saying the law they were convicted under is not a law at all, but a sentencing factor used to help a jury determine jail time after a conviction.
Seriously, as more and more information comes out about the case and how the agents were prosecuted, it shows more and more that it seemed politically motived. We already know that the Mexican gov’t was pushing the Bush admin and the prosecution, as well as helping out. We know that the Bush admin is pro-amnesty, and does less then little to stop illegals crossing the southern border. The upper levels of the Border Patrol are on the admin side, rather then the agents side. All that happened could easily make the agents be very careful, and lax, in doing their jobs, so that they do not get prosecuted.
Yes, Ramos and Compean did wrong. They screwed up. They should not have hid evidence and kept quite about what happened. But the punishment does not fit the crime, especially when the illegal immigrant who was shot in the ass is a big time drug smuggler, who, instead of being prosecuted himself, was given free access to cross the border, as well as medical care. Not like the guy, whose true name is not even known, is being investigated by the DEA.
Anyhow, let’s get Ramos and Compean free!
&Trackposted to Perri Nelson’s Website, DeMediacratic Nation, Big Dog’s Weblog, Nuke’s news and views, The Pink Flamingo, Webloggin, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, The Pet Haven, Right Voices, and Conservative Thoughts, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
