DOJ considering commutation for Ramos, Compean Attorney who makes recommendations to Bush has opened file on border agents

[Melissa K]

Posted: January 16, 2009
12:49 pm Eastern

By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2009 WorldNetDaily


The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a file on imprisoned U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean and a commutation of their sentences is under review, the office of agency pardon attorney Ronald L. Rodgers confirmed to WND.

Rodgers spoke directly about the case by telephone with Stephen J. Eichler, J.D., executive director of Jim Gilchrist's Minuteman Project Inc..

Eichler initially called the DOJ pardon attorney's office to discuss the prospect of a presidential pardon for Ramos and Compean. The men remain confined to solitary confinement in federal prison serving 11- and 12- years respectively for a 2005 incident in which they fired on a drug smuggler as he fled back into Mexico after bringing 750 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. near Fabens, Texas.

fter speaking with a U.S. pardon attorney staff coordinator about the serious nature of this matter, my call was immediately put through to Mr. Rodgers himself," Eichler told WND in an e-mail.

"We had a very frank and open discussion regarding the plight of the two Border Patrol agents," Eichler said. "During the conversation, Rodgers mentioned that agents Ramos and Compean may be eligible for commutations of their sentences, though they are not now being considered for pardons."

Eichler said Rodgers "was very informative and courteous."

"We got right to the point," he said. "The truth of the matter is a commutation is a very strong position for Ramos and Compean to be in."

Rodgers said the former agents apparently are not eligible for a pardon, which would nullify the punishment. But they might be eligible for a commutation, which would result in a reduction of their sentences.

"It could be very possible that the pardon attorney may recommend to President Bush that Ramos and Compean's sentences might be limited to the time they have already served," Eichler said.

"In this scenario, President Bush could commute their sentences and end their jailhouse nightmare," he added.

According to Eichler, Rodgers said he considers the request for Ramos and Compean a new request to the pardon attorney's office, "and he could not indicate at this point what his recommendation to President Bush would be."

As WND reported Ramos and Compean began serving their prison sentences two years ago, Jan. 17, 2007.

[JJ]

These men and their families are in my prayers and hopefully yours tonight.