President Bush Pardons Drug Dealers and Car Thieves

On Tuesday, December 11, 2007, President Bush granted 29 pardons that included carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner and a violator of election laws. It was rumored that he was going to pardon Cheney pal I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby the former top aide who was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative. The full pardon for Libby would have been gravy; he already had his two ½-year sentence commuted by Bush over the summer. So much for the "rule of law."

There are two American heroes, ladies and gentlemen, that sit in prison for securing our borders in Texas, Bush's hometown, and protecting the sovereignty of our nation from Mexican drug invaders. It is painful to witness this president pardon Thanksgiving turkeys, drug runners, and car thieves. The president refuses to entertain the notion of pardons for former Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean, because as the president puts it his "dear friend" Johnny Sutton is a fair guy. This is where justice gets hijacked, folks. You see, Johnny Sutton a Bush appointee is the West Texas U.S. General Attorney, the top lawman in Texas. Sutton has in the past sent Texas law enforcers to prison for their roles in immigration enforcement. Apparently, the message to the lawmen out there is enforce our immigration laws at your own peril. Discouraging the border agents from enforcing our immigration laws creates in essence de facto amnesty.

Sutton will tell you it's a matter of upholding the "rule of law." I think most people can accept that. I certainly can. The only problem with these high level Texans is that they are full of horse crap. Sutton's rule of law justified his office to suppress information regarding a drug runner that testified against the two agents. His rule of law allowed this same drug runner to continue dealing drugs from Mexico to the U.S., and commit perjury. Sutton's Mexican drug dealer committed crimes that were not covered under his initial immunity deal. Some of those crimes were dealing drugs, perjury, and obstructing justice (lying to federal authorities). The "rule of law" should have prompted an investigation. Nope, not by Sutton. It took other federal agencies to arrest Sutton's drug dealer for crimes that were being shielded by Sutton.

Sutton creatively managed to secure prison terms of 11 and 12 years for Ramos and Compean respectively, for enforcing our immigration laws. While that travesty took place, let's take a quick look at a 2005 case involving a corrupt Border Patrol Agent for breaking our immigration laws while in San Diego.

The defendant Ortiz, a criminal illegal Mexican alien duped the U.S. Border Patrol into hiring him. Ortiz, legally armed with a gun and shield continued to smuggle people and drugs into the U.S.. He was discovered, subsequently arrested and convicted of the following charges:

Case Number: 05CR1436-JAH

Defendant Oscar Antonio Ortiz

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

False Claim to U.S. Citizenship - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 911

Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens - Title 8, U.S.C., Sections 1324(a) (1) (A) (I) and (v) (1)

False Statement in the Acquisition of a Firearm - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 922(a) (6) and 924(a) (2)

Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 922(g) (5) (A) and 924(a) (2).

Defendant Ortiz received a five-year prison sentence.

With in the scope of Sutton's rule of law, Agents Ramos and Compean received 11 and 12 years in jail for enforcing the law!

As a result of the president's cronyism and support of de facto amnesty, there is no pardon forthcoming for Agents Ramos and Compean.

Pardons are an end-of-the-year presidential tradition, and Mr. Bush was not expected to issue any more this year.

The presidential pardon list was issued by the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Justice Department (Justice Department -what an oxymoron term that is becoming).

The criteria for Bush to examine prior to granting a pardon are the following:

1. The seriousness of the crime

2. How long ago it was committed

3. The acceptance of responsibility and showing of remorse

4. Post-conviction conduct and contributions to society

5. Any specific compelling need for relief

6. Official recommendations, including from the sentencing judge, the probation officer and the federal prosecutor.

Since President Bush apparently is confusing the seriousness of drug dealing and enforcing our immigration laws a pardon will not be forthcoming for the two agents.

Interestingly on the same day as the presidential pardons and on an unrelated topic Mr. Bush granted a very candid interview with ABC correspondent Martha Raddatz. During this Interview, Mr. Bush talked about overcoming his alcohol addiction saying he hasn't had a drink in over 20 years.

It was rare that the president discussed his addiction so candidly. Perhaps pardoning all of those drug dealers made him nostalgic.

Agents Ramos and Compean's appeal is grinding through the process, with a hopeful hearing that commenced on December 03, 2007.

Please take a moment to contact the White House and express your
outrage over this obvious Presidential oversight!

White House Comments Line: 202-456-1111
White House Fax: 202-456-2461
Email the White House: comments@whitehouse.gov.