Thread: Smuggler handed pass after delivering 2nd load

Smuggler handed pass after delivering 2nd load
Border clearance in Ramos-Compean case 'reflects incompetence' or 'warped priorities'

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Posted: July 25, 2007
2:50 p.m. Eastern


By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com


The drug smuggler who was shot at by former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean and testified against them when they were convicted in the case was issued unconditional, unescorted access to the United States during a period that included his involvement in a second drug smuggling incident, according to U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R.-Calif.

He has obtained – and provided WND with – copies of Department of Homeland Security border pass cards issued to Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, the smuggler in the case, covering that period of time.

"It appears as though the U.S. Attorney's Office was so intent on getting Ramos and Compean that their judgment was totally clouded to the degree they aided and abetted a criminal who was at that point actively engaged and already involved with a drug cartel," Rohrabacher said in a statement from his office.

"Obviously, giving a free border crossing pass to a known drug smuggler either reflects total incompetence or a warped sense of prosecutorial priorities which has plagued this case from the beginning," Rohrabacher stressed.

Rohrabacher's office released today a total of six border crossing passes that had been issued Aldrete-Davila over a one-year period starting March 2005, with the final border crossing pass issued in January 2006. That pass extended border crossing privileges to March 31, 2006.

WND broke the news that DHS issued the first border pass card to Aldrete-Davila on March 16, 2005, the date that Border Patrol Agent Rene Sanchez brought Aldrete-Davila from Mexico to William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, to have a bullet removed.

Medical records obtained by WND document that on March 16, 2005, Dr. Winston Marne removed a large bullet fragment from Aldrete Davila's right thigh.

WND also has reported that the criminal investigation of Ramos and Compean began after the Mexican consulate contacted the U.S. Consulate in Mexico in March 2005, saying they had a Mexican national who claimed to have been shot by Border Patrol agents.

On March 4, 2005, the U.S. Consulate contacted U.S. attorney's office at the Department of Justice. The Mexican national involved was Aldrete-Davila and the Mexican Consulate's demand led to the indictment and conviction of Ramos and Compean.

The Mexican Consulate's contacts with the U.S. Consulate in Mexico appear to have preceded the issuance of the first border patrol pass by DHS by less than two weeks.

The first pass was good for "multiple entries," and was valid until April 15, 2005. The border pass was signed by DHS agent Sanchez and recorded his badge number.

Five additional border pass cards were issued to Davila subsequent to March 2005, the last one issued on Jan. 24, 2006, marked valid for "multiple entries" until March 31, 2006.

That means the final DHS border pass was issued three months after the October 2005 "second load" incident involving Aldrete-Davila with Ortiz-Hernandez.

WND also broke the news that a Nov. 21, 2005, report by DHS Special Agent Christopher Sanchez indicated the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a "knock and talk" in Clint, Texas, Oct. 23, 2005, in which they learned of Aldrete-Davila's second load.

According to the Nov. 21, 2005, DHS report, Cipriano Ernesto Ortiz-Hernandez, the occupant of 12101 Quetzal in Clint, Texas, positively identified Aldrete-Davila as the driver who dropped off 752.8 pounds of marijuana in a 1990 Chevy Astro van at Ortiz-Hernandez's home the day before.

The last DHS border pass, expiring on March 31, 2006, was valid for fully three weeks after the Ramos and Compean trial had ended.

Closing statements in the Ramos-Compean case were made on March 6, 2006, before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso. Aldrete-Davila concluded his testimony at trial on February 23, 2006.

Rohrabacher also released documents that indicate following his March 16, 2005, surgery to have the bullet removed, Aldrete-Davila received medical treatment at the William Beaumont Medical Center that extended until October 20, 2005.

Eight medical appointments are registered for Aldrete-Davila at the William Beaumont Medical Center from March 24, 2005, until October 20, 2005.

The final border pass, expiring on March 31, 2006, then was valid for fully five months after Aldrete-Davila's medical treatment at the William Beaumont Medical Center.

The records indicate that the total "out-of-pocket" cost to the U.S. government for the medical treatment Aldrete-Davila received at the William Beaumont Medical Center was $9,100, which includes approximately $8,500 for removing the bullet and housing costs for DHS agents to guard Aldrete-Davila during trial.

The records provide no documentation for any agents guarding Aldrete-Davila on any border crossings he may have made subsequent to the end of the Ramos-Compean trial.

The records do not indicate if Aldrete-Davila used a DHS-issued border crossing pass to enter the U.S. in October 2005, driving the Astro van that brought the 752.8 pounds of marijuana to Ortiz-Hernandez's safe house in Clint, Texas.

Rohrabacher obtained copies of Aldrete-Davila's border pass cards in a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Ramos and Compean currently are serving 11- and 12-year sentences respectively in federal prison for a Feb. 17, 2005, incident in which Ramos and Compean fired their weapons at Aldrete-Davila as he fled across the Mexican border.

The incident involving Ramos and Compean began when Aldrete-Davila, entered the U.S. from Mexico illegally to smuggle into the United States a van containing 743 pounds of marijuana. This load is commonly referred to as "the first load" Aldrete-Davila smuggled into the United States in the Ramos-Compean case.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/artic ... E_ID=56846

The upper echelon of DHS, including the BELOVED SECRETARY, and Sutton, et al, stink to high heaven. What a crooked bunch of pigs!

543 DAYS FOR THIS CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION.

Originally Posted by NCByrd

The upper echelon of DHS, including the BELOVED SECRETARY, and Sutton, et al, stink to high heaven. What a crooked bunch of pigs!

543 DAYS FOR THIS CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION.

They have continually lit their own asses on fire time after time again. I love it when they self-immolate.

Johnny Sutton will lie up 'til the very end. I'm so glad he's under investigation and I really hope he is forced into resigning.

transcript from Lou's show on topic



DOBBS: There's further evidence tonight that the federal government's prosecution of former Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean may be falling apart.

For the first time, we can show you tonight documentary proof that the illegal alien drug smuggler who was given immunity by the Justice Department to testify against those agents had a free pass to cross our border with Mexico at the same time the DEA says he was involved in smuggling a second load of drugs.

This evidence raises troubling new questions about U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's prosecution of their case.

Casey Wian has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In February 2005, illegal alien Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila was found smuggling 743 pounds of marijuana near Fabens, Texas. He led Border Patrol agents on a high- speed pursuit and fled back to Mexico.

But, during the pursuit, Davila was wounded by agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who failed to properly report the shooting. They are now serving 11 and 12 years in federal prison, largely because federal prosecutors gave drug smuggler Davila immunity to testify against the agents. They also gave Davila a border-crossing card, so he could receive medical treatment in the United States.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher obtained documents through a Freedom of Information request proving that visa was in effect at the same time a DEA report shows Davila was involved in smuggling another load of marijuana across the border.

REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: These documents verify drug dealer Aldrete-Davila had an unconditional, unescorted access pass to cross into the United States. Free-access passes were issued to him, even after he was identified by the Drug Enforcement Agency in a second drug smuggling incident.

WIAN: The U.S. attorney in Texas, Johnny Sutton, faced harsh questioning at a Senate hearing on the case last week.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: The question is, do you believe it was a mistake to give this kind of humanitarian, ongoing parole visa to a drug dealer?

JOHNNY SUTTON, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS: I guess I would say is, if it turns out he...

FEINSTEIN: The answer is yes or no, Mr. Sutton.

SUTTON: No. If it turns out he ran another load of dope, obviously it's a huge mistake. If he didn't run another load of dope, it's not a mistake. You know, the bottom line is, we don't know yet whether he ran another load of dope. My team is trying to figure that out. And as soon as we get competent, admissible evidence to charge him, we would.

WIAN: Federal prosecutors successfully persuaded a judge to prevent jurors in the Ramos-Compean case from hearing about Davila's second load of drugs.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think he had an obligation at that point to move for dismissal, because the key witness whose testimony was going to send the two Border Patrol agents to jail had proven that he was -- that any bit of reliability or credibility that he had possessed after the first drug deal, he certainly did not possess after the second drug deal.

WIAN: That is expected to be a key part of the agent's appeal. The House will hold hearings into the Ramos-Compean case next week.

Prosecutor Johnny Sutton refused to appear, prompting calls for his resignation.

REP. WALTER JONES (R), NORTH CAROLINA: The skunk is in the prosecutor's office in Texas. And, when you know you have got a skunk, you better get him out. No longer can the American people stand by and see this injustice of these two border agents who deserve freedom.

WIAN: Lawmakers are demanding that President Bush free Ramos and Compean immediately.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIAN: Congressman Rohrabacher also received copies of letters between the Mexican government and the Department of Homeland Security about Aldrete-Davila. They failed to provide evidence that Mexico pressured the United States to prosecute the Border Patrol agents.

But they do contain an interesting statement by the consul general of Mexico in El Paso. He called illegal alien drug smuggler Aldrete-Davila a victim -- Lou.

DOBBS: A victim.

And what time? Was what contemporaneous with the incident? Was it just before the prosecution, or was it afterwards?

WIAN: It was during the investigation. It was a few weeks after the shooting incident. It was while the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security was trying to get in touch with Aldrete-Davila, and around the time they were getting ready to offer him immunity, so he would cooperate and ultimately testify against the Border Patrol agents -- Lou.

DOBBS: Is there the sense that, with the calls by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator John Cornyn, by Congressman Duncan Hunter, for a congressional pardon, that this new evidence presented today by Congressman Rohrabacher amounts to reversible error, and that it might be a wise decision on the part of the defense attorneys for Ramos and Compean to wait for a ruling on that issue? WIAN: Even Johnny Sutton at that Senate hearing last week mentioned that he fully expected this controversy, the granting of immunity to Aldrete-Davila and the keeping of the information about the second drug load from the jury and the border crossing car, he fully expects that to be a key part of the agents' appeal -- Lou.

DOBBS: And with the DEA agent -- the evidence right there before us on Aldrete-Davila, why is Johnny Sutton saying that he doesn't know or his people don't know whether in fact this illegal alien drug smuggler carried another load into the United States?

WIAN: It's unclear, Lou, because, officially, that DEA report remains under seal by a court. So, Johnny Sutton has taken a position all along that he can't discuss any of this evidence.

And whether the other drug dealers, drug suspects who fingered Aldrete-Davila in this second load are not credible, we can only guess. Johnny Sutton won't talk about it.

(CROSSTALK)

WIAN: Yes.

DOBBS: Let me ask you this. Who requested that that evidence be sealed?

WIAN: I'm not sure, Lou. I'm not exactly sure on that. I will have to check on it and get back to you.

DOBBS: All right.

AND Glenn Beck ( start of show)

Tonight we take off the gloves. I`m outraged, and I hope you are with me. Month after month after month after month in hearing after hearing, our government has refused to reveal important information in the case against former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean. Today we may have finally found out why.

Here is the point tonight.

In Washington, it is most often not the crime, but the cover-up, and this cover-up may be bigger than any of us realize. And here`s how I got there. A few days ago there was a hearing that was held to determine what information the government should be forced to produce in this case.

A special assistant U.S. attorney argued that the answer is none, no information, quote, "because we don`t believe there`s sufficient public interest that outweighs privacy interests." Now we`re beginning to find out exactly why they have such an interest in that privacy.

New government documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act clearly show that the drug smuggler that was shot in the butt by Agent Ramos was provided with inexplicable privileges, privileges that the government has apparently been trying to keep secret.

Now, we already know about the free medical care that we provided this drug smuggler, the immunity, but today we found out that our government also issued this scumbag a total of six golden tickets that allowed him to cross the border at will. Two of those unconditional, multiple entry passes. And they were issued, two of them, after the government was informed that the cartel member was still smuggling drugs into the country.

Even more insane, is the last card didn`t even expire until a month after the trial ended. If we`re to believe U.S. attorney Johnny Sutton who has sat right here at this desk and I think lied to me right to my face, we`re supposed to believe him that this guy need a pass so he could testify in court.

Then Mr. Sutton, why were we still helping him smuggle drugs across the border after the trial was over?

These people are lying to us, and I hope -- I hope, America, you are as fed up as I am.

Maybe the reason that we`re being stone-walled every step of the way is because this trail ends with a smoking gun that I believe may be sitting on the president`s desk.

Maybe the reason that we -- that such extraordinary lengths are being made to keep everything private is because Ramos and Compean are really just one small part of a much bigger story, one small piece of a thread that will unravel the whole sweater if we keep tugging away at it.

So here`s what you need to know tonight. The only way the government and Johnny Sutton and, yes, President Bush can clear their names and call off the dogs is by releasing everything they know right now.

Don`t you know, Mr. President, you are causing more problems? You are causing us to not believe and have good faith in our government. Stop stonewalling! Stop hiding. Stop treating us like fourth graders. We used to support you. Stop giving us the excuse that a Mexican drug cartel member has some inalienable right to privacy.

Earlier today I asked a member of Congress if he thought this was the beginning or the end. He thought, and so do I, this is just the beginning. Buckle up, gang. This one is headed right to the Oval Office.

When it comes to this administration, there is no conspiracy with 9/11. The weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There was nothing sinister with Cheney and Libby and Valerie Plame. This one is different. This one could be the president`s undoing.

If there are honestly no hidden agendas, no message being sent to our Border Patrol, then Mr. President, please demand that everyone from Johnny Sutton on up come clean and release all of the records.

Congressman from California, Danny Rohrabacher. Thank you, Congressman, for joining me again.

The breaking news that you have today is the DHS document. What does it say?

REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: Basically, we have a -- received through a bureaucratic fluke, I might add, documents that the U.S. attorney`s office and the Department of Homeland Security has done their best to try to keep from us.

What they are, are the border passing -- how do you say, they`re free transit passes across the American border that were granted by the United States government to this drug dealer in the Ramos-Compean case.

BECK: This is the one that, when asked in his testimony in front of Congress -- when asked, I believe it was by Dianne Feinstein, was this in retrospect, after the second drug run, was this a mistake to issue this? He said yes, in hindsight it was, but what`s the new information?

ROHRABACHER: Well, the new information is that, No. 1, we have proven that the drug deal -- the drug deal for the second drug deal happened -- you know, while this drug dealer was -- had been given this free pass to cross the border.

But even after the second drug deal in which the DEA then notified the Department of Justice that this man had been involved in yet a second drug shipment, another pass was issued to him. Actually, there were two passes issued to him for free transit, unescorted transit across the United States border.

This is after they knew he`d been involved in a second -- in a second shipment.

BECK: And even after the trial was ordered -- it was over.

ROHRABACHER: That`s correct. So it wasn`t a trial and they knew he was involved in a second shipment. They kept all of that from the jury, of course, and now they tried to keep from the U.S. Congress and the American people the fact that they`d issued this man a free pass to come across the border, even though they knew he`d been involved in drug dealing.

BECK: Congressman, I urge people to read the -- the transcript of the show from the radio program today at GlennBeck.com when you were on, but I asked you this question earlier. You reached out to the White House early on and said, "Look, we can solve this. Here`s how we do it."

What was your experience?

ROHRABACHER: Well, you know, I -- first of all, I voted for the president, and I am not an enemy of the president. But, you know, I wanted to diffuse this case, but most importantly, we don`t want to destroy the lives of these two Border Patrol agents.

So after one of them, Ramos, was attacked in prison, he could have been killed. I called up the White House and a friend there and said, look, we can diffuse this situation simply by having the prosecution, having the president agree to have a request of the judge to let these two men out on bail or bond, pending their appeal.

This happens all the time with criminals, and they said this is a great idea because it might take a year or two for their appeal to go through and then the president would be out of office.

Well, the next day -- instead of calling back, they issued a press release saying they are opposed to letting Ramos and Compean out on bail, pending their appeal. So it was a decision that went all the way to the White House and all the way to the Oval Office, and we got that kind of terse response.

BECK: Congressman, thank you. I appreciate it. And keep up the good work. We`ll continue to follow it.
___________________________________


You contend that the information that we`re sharing has -- has allowed the Mexican government to get a hold on our enforcement of laws here in America. What do you mean by that?

ANTONIO: That is correct. Again, your viewers, if they go to the web site, SPP.gov, it talks about exchanges of information between our governments.

Now in this case with Ramos and Compean, it was the Mexican government that really drove this agenda to get these innocent Border Patrol agents convicted and sent to jail for these terms.

Now, since this exchange of information, under the Department of Homeland Security, we`re going to see more and more and more of this. And what this is going to lead to, Glenn, is really a demoralization of our men and women on the Border Patrol. And it`s happening now.

BECK: Right.

ANTONIO: I live here in San Diego, Glenn. I`m 15 minutes away from the border. I`ve spoken with Border Patrol agents, you know, active and retired, and I`m telling you, this case has really demoralized them.

BECK: I have to tell you, Sam, that you know, whether you want to believe in the black helicopters or not, America, you should look into this. And this is the warning to the Bush administration, by not releasing the documents. And this is the stuff they`re holding back.

Well, the people want to know what was the communication between our government and the Mexican government? Give us those records. They will not release them. And by not releasing them, they further these conspiracy theories of black helicopters and all kinds of things.

this is from tuesdays show, 7-24

Meanwhile, down in Washington, where our leader`s failure has acted to, well, create this whole mess in the first place, a hearing was held yesterday over the release of government document -- documents related to the prosecution of U.S. border agents Ramos and Compean, both of whom are currently serving over a decade in prison for shooting a drug-dealer cartel member in the butt.

The judge won`t rule before Friday, but last week at a town hall forum, we got a rare look at how the president views this case when he was asked if he would promise to pardon the agents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know it`s an emotional issue. But people need to look at the facts. These men were convicted by a jury of their peers after listening to the facts as my friend, Johnny Sutton, presented them. But anyway, no, I won`t make you that promise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Weird. The same thing happened with Scooter Libby, didn`t it? That`s weird. Oh, and O.J. Simpson, too, a jury found him not guilty.

The president isn`t going to promise anything. This is far from over. After a hearing last week with senators John Cornyn and Dianne Feinstein, they have now written the president a letter urging him to commute the agents` sentences immediately.

Senator Cornyn is here. What are the odds that the president is even going to listen to you?

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: I hope so. That`s the reason we wrote the letter.

BECK: I have noticed that you didn`t attach a phone number to it. Does he have your number to call?

CORNYN: He knows how to get a hold of me.

BECK: OK. It`s a -- really, it`s an excellent letter where you lay out all of the facts. I find it amazing that just last week, as we played the audio a second ago, that he says that he`s not going to promise the American people anything. He wishes that they would -- they would listen to the jury.

Couldn`t the same thing be said for Scooter Libby?

CORNYN: Well, of course. I think, you know, the important message is, Glenn, that no one is above the law, no one is beneath the law and that we have this concept of equal justice.

So if Mr. Libby is going to be considered for commutation, I think these Border Patrol agents ought to be considered, as well, and that`s what we`ve asked the president to do.

BECK: You know, I don`t know if you know this. Yesterday, there was another -- there was another hearing. There was a court case that went through with Judicial Watch. And the Justice Department`s response was -- and I want to read this -- "We don`t believe there`s sufficient public interest that outweighs privacy interests."

So in other words, what they`re saying is, we`re not going to release any of the documents, because we don`t think the public`s right to know is as good as the privacy of the cartel member.

What happened? How is this upside down?

CORNYN: Well, that sounds ridiculous to me. I happen to believe that the public does have a right to know what government is doing. There can be some instances where the need for confidentiality is -- is present, but this kind of idea that, you know, you don`t need know as much as we need to keep it secret just strikes me as a bad formulation.

BECK: It -- it doesn`t work, and I`ve got to tell you, Senator. This is what leads people to conspiracy theories on this. If you say on one hand people just need to know all of the facts, you can`t then at the same time obstruct people from getting to those documents and seeing those documents.

I mean, all the way with you, they`ve been -- they`ve had homeland security in the Capitol building say, "No, no, no, we`ve got some evidence that you guys don`t know about." When Congressmen asked for those documents, did you ever see them?

CORNYN: Well, they may or may not. I mean, to tell you the truth, a lot of classified briefings that I`ve had here since I`ve been in the Senate, you can learn just as much by watching cable TV and -- and reading the newspaper.

You know, and a lot of this secrecy interest really is -- goes overboard. And I think sometimes it`s just a matter of bureaucrats trying to cover their -- cover their trail.

BECK: I know Congressman Tancredo is trying to cut the funds to imprison these two guys. Is there any chance that`s going to work? How do you think this whole thing is going to end?

CORNYN: I don`t see how cutting the funds to keep these Border Patrol in prison is -- how that will work. Maybe somebody`s got a better idea that I haven`t -- that I don`t understand. I think in the end, commutation of the sentence is the appropriate way to go. You know, first of all...

BECK: Do you think it will, Senator?

CORNYN: I mean, I`m hopeful. That`s the reason why Senator Feinstein and I wrote the letter. That`s what I think the attention that you and others are directing this issue is helpful, because I think the more people learn about it, the more concerned they get.

BECK: Senator, thank you so much.

And just a reminder: there are three men serving time unjustly for simply trying to protect our borders. Even one day behind bars is too much. And as you can see, it`s been much more than one day. Support them now by ordering a T-shirt at GlennBeck.com.

Click on the source link to listen to the audio portion which is around 27 min.
~~~

Audio: Breaking news in the Ramos - Compean case

Our thanks to Lone Wolf for the audio file

July 25, 2007

Laura Ingraham is out on vacation, and Edd Hendee of KSEV from Houston was filling in for Laura today.

It was one of the best shows I have heard in a long time.

Here is one clip, including interviews with congressman Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach, California, and his communications director / spokeswoman, Tara Setmeyer. Tara was the one who went with Tom Tancredo to visit agent Ramos, after he was beaten in prison.

Rohrabacher's staff managed to get their hands on some new documents yesterday afternoon. This is the FIRST show to talk about these documents.

There are other short interviews included, too, like two jurors from the Ramos - Compean case.

There is also a funny, yet maddening segment: Rohrabacher tells Edd, that they asked for US Government documents related to the handling of the case from Sutton's office.

The reply was they can only get them, if they secure a RELEASE FROM THE DRUG SMUGGLER, DAVILA, given that there details in the documents pertaining to HIS PRIVACY!

Enjoy. -- Lone Wolf

http://www.americanpatrol.com/AUDIO/HTM ... 70725.html

http://www.patgray.com/content/view/523/6/

you have got to listen to this interview with suttton.
and ed hendee and co host pat gray. They bust Sutton big time
the interviews with the two jurors were first broadcasted here.
Listen to the third hour and they say to a caller that the two jurors
were using words not appropriate for radio.. LOL

they were Pi$$ed