So does this mean that our government gave this drug smuggler perpetual immunity against any future drug smuggling charges?? What the he--!


Partial transcript of Lou Dobbs Tonight, Jan. 12, 2007

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ ... dt.01.html

DOBBS: Former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are still awaiting word tonight on their request to remain free on bond, appealing 11 and 12-year sentences for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler at the border. The drug smuggler was given immunity by the Justice Department to testify against those agents. Casey Wian now has the latest on thing agents who are scheduled to begin serving their sentences next Wednesday -- Casey.

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, family members, attorneys and the agents themselves all expected a ruling today. Federal judge Kathleen Cardone (ph) is considering whether to allow the former Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos to remain free on bond while their convictions on assault with a deadly weapon, civil rights violations and other charges are appealed.

As we reported and as you mentioned, the Mexican drug smuggler who was wounded in the incident was given immunity from prosecution by the federal government, sparking outrage from border security activists.

Now, the judge has already determined that the agents are not a danger to the community, and not a flight risk. That's why she allowed them to remain free since their conviction in October. But in deciding whether they can stay free pending their coming appeal, she may also consider the substance of that appeal and its chances of success.

Also at issue, a law that anyone convicted of a federal gun crime must go to prison unless there are exceptional circumstances. Lawyers for the agents say the fact that dozens of U.S. congressmen and hundreds of thousands of American citizens have signed petitions demanding a presidential pardon for the agents are clearly exceptional.

Now, if Judge Cardone denies the motion, agents Ramos and Compean must report to prison to begin their 11 and 12-year sentences on Wednesday.

And Lou, I just got off the phone with former Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos, and he said he understands that Judge Kathleen Cardone's office have received lots of phone calls from supporters of the agents. And the agents very much appreciate that supports. But he also says he hear that some of those phone calls have been threatening, and we understand that the U.S. Marshal Service is actually involved in looking into some of those threatening phone calls.

So, the agents ask that anyone calling in their support please refrain from any type of threatening behavior. Obviously not helpful to their cause -- Lou.

DOBBS: Threatening not helpful to anyone's cause, and certainly the marshal's office should deal straightforwardly with those people who would do such a thing.

Let's turn to a couple of things, though.

One, because as we talk about this drug smuggler that was given immunity by Johnny Sutton's attorney -- the attorney general, his office, he subsequently committed a crime, did he not, after being given immunity? WIAN: He sure did. Our sources tell us that this drug smuggler was caught smuggling an even bigger load, somewhere near 1,000 pounds of marijuana, subsequent to this first load that agents Ramos and Compean uncovered. And he was granted immunity for that offense as well. He's also suing the U.S. government for $5 million.

DOBBS: And at the same time, at least three jurors feel that they were coerced into their -- into their verdicts.

WIAN: Absolutely. There was a filing of a claim for jury misconduct before the convictions were handed down. That claim was denied.

The basic substance of that was that these jurors claim that the jury foreman said that their -- that a hung jury would be unacceptable to this judge and that they had to reach some sort of a verdict. These jurors had questions. They didn't want to convict. But they feet that they had to, and they now feel that they did the wrong thing -- Lou.

DOBBS: And to -- to put it exactly where we are, more than 50 U.S. congressmen have written the president, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, without response from those gentlemen. Most of those -- those petitioning congressmen are Republicans. The Republican executive branch not responding at all.

Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, basically scoffing at the idea of a pardon for these gentlemen. I happen to agree with him on one level.

I think what should happen here, Casey, is there should be a full investigation of the U.S. Attorney's Office. There should be a full investigation of this case, a full investigation of the court proceedings in that federal court. And meanwhile, they should be holding in suspension any action against these two agents.

Casey, thank you very much.

Casey Wian...

WIAN: OK.

DOBBS: ... reporting on one of the most troubling cases in the country right now.

If you would like to voice your support for those agents, Ramos and Compean, you can e-mail the White House directly at comments@whitehouse.gov, or the attorney general himself at askdoj.gov.

If you prefer to call, you can reach the White House at 202-456- 1111. The attorney general's office, 202-514-2001.