Bush commutes two sentences

Posted: Monday, January 19, 2009 2:11 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Courts, Pete Williams

From NBC's Pete Williams
President Bush today granted clemency to two former Border Patrol agents -- Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos -- who were convicted for shooting a Mexican drug dealer. Their pardons became a big cause among conservatives, especially as the debate over illegal immigration heated up.

What Bush did today was commute their sentences, but he did so before he received a recommendation from the Justice Department's pardon attorney. "The Office of the Pardon Attorney was still in the process of reviewing the clemency requests from Compean and Ramos at the time these commutations were granted," a Justice official says.

In fact, the Justice Department was still reviewing the applications and had not made a recommendation to the White House.

Today's action brings to 182 the total number of pardons and grants of clemency during the eight years of President Bush's term. That compares with 459 during Bill Clinton's eight years and 406 during Reagan's eight years. In short, this president has used the pardon power less than any of his modern predecessors.

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Comments

wasn't it a bush appointee that went out of their way to prosecute these guys? Goodbye to the most incompetent and cowardly administration in history...finally

Rick, NC (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 6:15 PM)

All you idiots who say, "Bush, finally did the right thing" he kept you safe didn't he? Ya better hang on, because the criminals will be in charge real soon!

Mattie Fleming Island FL (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 7:01 PM)

Thank God! About time. Thanks to everyone that got involved to help it happen.

AUDREY, SEDALIA, CO. (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 7:02 PM)

Well it's about time. Now we conservatives should start a campaign for getting them their jobs back, backpay, and millions in compensatory damages for these American patriots.

Jim McMahon, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 7:29 PM)

Oh yeah, thanks George W.

Jim McMahon, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 7:30 PM)

God bless these men and their families I'm thankful to the Lord! I've kept them in my prayers and their families! Thank God they are free!

Kathy Jones , Taylors SC. (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 7:55 PM)

Free at last. The dirtbag drug dealer actually was apprehended again after his immunity deal. If the border patrol agents were guilty of anything it was of not finshing the job. Think of all the money and energy wasted on the trials and false imprisonment, not mentioning the destruction of Compean and Ramo's lives. Can you imagine how reluctant a Border Patrol Agent will be to fire their weapon?

carlo panera Millille,N.J. (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 8:04 PM)

The letter of the law or the spirit of same...the letter kills and the spirit brings release and hope. Anytime a drug dealer can play lets make a deal and have two border patrol guards arrested is a sad and worrisome time for the USA. Random shooting is not condoned but plugging this desperado was a good call.
Now the men should be pardoned and given back pay, and jobs. Unfortunately, I think Bush is far too proud to admit mistakes, even when they cost lives and futures. Love all the great comments here. Happy New Year all!

David Portland Oregon (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 9:10 PM)

Thank God for putting into President Bush's heart to set these men free! I hope that people will remember to give them a hand up after they're released. It can be very difficult to find employment when you're a convicted felon and Ignacio Ramos is still suffering from his injuries from that beating he took while in custody. They and their families are in for a huge adjustment!

Linda, Ventura, CA. (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 9:11 PM)

These men were convicted of trying to cover up the shooting and were sentenced according to federal guide lines. The "victim" i believed received monetary compensation for the shooting. He was consequently arrested again for smuggling. These agents deserved the commutation of their sentences as the 10 and 12 years they received was to harsh, but they will not be able to be federal officers again and rightly so.

Joe Blow, Somewherein, NM (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 2:02 AM)

The ignorance evident on these posts is a sad reminder of why that moron Bush was ever given a position of power in the first place. He certainly never deserved it, nor did these lying, law-breaking, power abusing "law-enforcement" officers. They were rightly convicted for their lies and cover-up by a jury of PEOPLE far more familiar with the circumstances than any of you. But just like Bush, damn the law, damn the people and let GREED GREED GREED reign supreme. That POS Bush is the worst thing that ever happened to this country, and his disgrace will be felt for decades.

Danomatic Boise Idaho (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 2:13 AM)

You know, I am sick of hearing about George W. Bush.
He is such a little war monger, it's almost unbelievable!
I don't know too much about the case at hand, but what about being innocent until proven guilty. This applies to both the so called "drug dealer" and the border guards.
Yes, they shot and killed him......he didn't have his day in court.
But god almight, you of the almight and super power USA charged, convicted and punished the border guards. Rightfully so.......shooting someone in the back is the sign of cowardice......did they not teach them how to discharge a firearm.......what happened to the knees, legs, arms etc

Great country........"The right to bare arms".

You wonder why you are in the mess you are in!

Think about it?

Ding Dong Bush is gone, and his puppet wife too!

Canada_1 (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 2:54 AM)

Let's not forget that the drug smuggler was finally identified as a major cartel member who was looking for a 5 million dollar payout. His lies put Ramos and Compean in jail. Sutton's quid pro quo game with the Mexican government was the driving force behind the convictions and his PR tour around the country whining as to why people found his prosecution of the Agents repugnant was very unprofessional, if not pathetic. I hope a full pardon for the Agents is in the works. They deserve it.

Jerry Edmison, Abilene, Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 7:37 AM)

I prayed daily that our God in heaven would find a way to get these 2 noble men out of prison because they did no wrong, they just did their jobs protecting our borders. If anything, they should be given Congressional Medals of Honor and a public apology from the Justice Department for protecting our borders from monster of this sort. Monica, I am so happy for you, Nacho,and the boys, as well as the Compean Family. I am also very very grateful, God sent my little brother, Roderick Thomas or as Nacho would say, "Preacher", to be that guardian angel to Nacho and saving his life. I am elated for all of you. I can't wait for us all to get together and celebrate this reunion! It's been along time coming, although not soon enough. I love you all.

Meloney Thomas Hargrove(Preacher's sister) (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 8:06 AM)

Compean and Ramos should have been given complete pardons. We tie the hands of our Border Patrol when they are being shot at and also give immunity to a convicted drug smuggler for giving testimony against agents. This is justice? At least these two will be free and I hope that they will be granted full pardons in the future. This is a step in the right direction.

And for you bleeding hearts out there - why don't you volunteer to patrol the border and see how many bullets, rocks and other missiles you have to duck? Go to a border town on our side of the border and see what the dangers are there, plus the overcrowded ERs, the schools with so many kids of illegals, the money it is costing these towns for jail space for illegals, etc. If you feel so strongly about the "rights" of the illegals, then you pay for them!

AZrebel, Fort Mohave, AZ (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 8:30 AM)

CONTRAST. IT TOOK BUSH 48 HOURS TO COMMUTTE HIS BUDDY, SCOOTER LIBBY'S, SENTENCE! JUDICIOUS?

BUSH WASTED NO TIME COMMUTTING SCOOTER LIBBY.. (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 8:39 AM)

"In fact, the Justice Department was still reviewing the applications and had not made a recommendation to the White House." Well, when the @#*& were they going to finish their review? A few minutes after Obama was sworn in??

TJ (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 12:34 PM)

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