Dems OK hearing on border agents
Congress probing possible influence by Mexico on Ramos-Compean case

Posted: March 13, 2007
5:08 p.m. Eastern
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Democrats have approved a congressional hearing to explore Mexico's possible influence on the prosecution of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.

The request by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. – ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight – was approved by the panel's chairman, Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.

As WND reported, documents indicate the Mexican Consulate played a role in the events leading to U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's high-profile prosecution of Ramos and Compean, who are serving 11 and 12 year sentences for their role in the shooting of a drug smuggler.

Rohrabacher said the hearing will "permit us to conduct an official investigation into aspects of the Ramos and Compean prosecution and others cases where a pattern of questionable foreign influence seems to exist."

"I hope this administration will more forthright and cooperative than they have been thus far considering all of our requests for information will now be a part of an official subcommittee investigation, culminating with hearings," Rohrabacher said in a statement.

"If a foreign government is having an undue influence on the decisions of our government to make concessions for illegal aliens over our law enforcement officers," he added, "the American people have a right to know about it."

Mexican consular officials also demanded the prosecution of Texas Sheriff's Deputy Guillermo "Gilmer" Hernandez, who subsequently was brought to trial by Sutton.

WND has obtained a copy of a letter written April 18, 2005, by Mexican Consul Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes in Eagle Pass, Texas, demanding Hernandez be prosecuted for injuring a Mexican national, Marciela Rodriguez Garcia.

[Page 1 of the letter can be seen here and page 2 here.]





In the case of agents Ramos and Compean, WND has obtained notes made by a congressional staff member who attended a Sept. 26, 2006, meeting with three investigators from the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General's Office.

The staff member's notes indicate the Inspector General's Office briefed the congressmen that the Mexican consul also had intervened in the Ramos and Compean case.

DHS investigative reports document that March 4, 2005, is the date on which the agency initiated the probe.

WND can find no evidence the Border Patrol, DHS, or U.S. Attorney Sutton had started any investigation of Ramos or Compean concerning the events of Feb. 17, 2005, prior to March 4, 2005.

While the agents are in federal prison, the drug smuggler, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, has found an American lawyer and plans to sue the Border Patrol for $5 million for allegedly violating his civil rights.