Thread: Hearings about agents' case could go before House

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5230591

Hearings about agents' case could go before House
By Sara A. Carter, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Launched:02/15/2007 12:00:00 AM PST

The speaker of the House of Representatives will be asked to hold hearings on the case of two convicted Border Patrol agents for the shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler.
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The request, which comes on the heels of the Senate's decision to hold hearings last week on the case, was drafted by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, and was sent Wednesday to all House members.
After the House members' signatures are collected the letter will be sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee; and Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The case involves the conviction of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean last year for the shooting of Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, a Mexican national, who allegedly smuggled about 700 pounds of marijuana across the border near El Paso.

Ramos and Compean are serving 11 and 12 years, respectively, in federal prison.

"Serious questions remain unanswered by our federal government over the apparently misguided prosecution of two distinguished U.S. Border Patrol Agents," the letter to the Democratic leaders said.

"Numerous and repeated attempts by Members of Congress to ascertain the facts of this case through inquiries with relevant federal agencies have been unsuccessful. Our requests for information have been delayed or denied, and certain federal investigators have even misled us about this case."

Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, on Wednesday also sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Richard Skinner asking for an investigation into his office for misleading Congress about the circumstances surrounding the investigation of the agents.

At a private September meeting, House members from Texas, Poe, Rep. Michael McCaul and Rep. Kenny Marchant, were told by Skinner's office that they had evidence that Ramos and Compean "were out to shoot Mexicans" and that they had admitted to knowingly shooting an unarmed person.

Skinner admitted this month at two House hearings that those statements were false.

"These congressional hearings are necessary to shed light on the truth of this case," Poe added. "There are many unanswered questions regarding the trial and what happened that day. The Justice Department has no business being the long arm of the Mexican government."

Documents obtained by the Daily Bulletin show that the Mexican consulate was actively involved in the U.S. attorney's prosecution of the Border Patrol agents and a Texas deputy sheriff last year.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has dubbed its investigation in these events as "the Texas Three."

According to notes taken at the September meeting with the Inspector General's Office, the Mexican consulate contacted the U.S. consulate two weeks after the Feb. 17, 2005, incident involving the two agents.

"The Mexican consulate contacted the U.S. Consulate in Mexico saying that they have a person who claims to have been shot by a Border agent," the congressional notes state. "On March 4, 2005, the U.S. consulate contacted the U.S. attorney."

According to official letters obtained by the Daily Bulletin, Mexican consular officials also sent 17 letters demanding the prosecution of Texas sheriff's Deputy Guillermo "Gilmer" Hernandez, who had wounded a Mexican national near Rocksprings, a small town in Edwards County about 50 miles from the border with Mexico.

In an April 18, 2005, letter, Mexican consular official Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes demanded that the deputy be prosecuted.

"Based on the Consular Convention between Mexico and the United States and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the Consulate of Mexico is entitled to represent, protect and defend the rights of Mexican nationals in this country," the letter from the Mexican consul stated.

"Therefore, I would like to point out, that is the care of my Country that this kind of incidents against our nationals, do not remain unpunished."

Deputy Hernandez was convicted last year and is awaiting sentencing in a Texas jail.

Finally!!!!

Loved this statement....It is so true.
The Justice Department has no business being the long arm of the Mexican government."

Hope this will get the Pardon that Ramos and Copean deserve.[/b]

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A pardon should not be the outcome. Pardon says you are guilty but we are going to forgive you. The agents should have complete freedom without any record. A mistrial should be ordered by DOJ and then the administrative punishment should be handed out. No conviction should stand.

congress needs to look at the connection of Bush's federal government to Mexico. this is a worth while use of my taxpayer dollars.

In an April 18, 2005, letter, Mexican consular official Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes demanded that the deputy be prosecuted.
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So, when do we as US citizens need to listen to the demands of the Mexican consular. The Boarder Guards need to be out on appeal Immediately! A pardon should not be the outcome, but if that is what it takes I say do it.

When do we start protecting our US citizens over the Mexicans?