WASHINGTON (CNN) - On his final full day in office, President George W. Bush issued commutations for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted in 2006 of shooting an illegal alien who was smuggling drugs at the time.
The prison sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean will now end on March 20.
Ramos had received an 11-year prison sentence; Compean had received a
12-year sentence.
"The president has reviewed the circumstances of this case as a whole and the conditions of confinement and believes the sentences they received are too harsh and that they, and their families, have suffered enough for their crimes," a senior administration official said.
"Commuting their sentences does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes. Ramos and Compean are convicted felons who violated their oaths to uphold the law and have been severely punished," the official stated.
"This commutation gives them an opportunity to return to their families and communities, but both men will have to carry the burden of being convicted felons and the shame of violating their oaths for the rest of their lives."
The official noted that both Democratic and Republican members of
Congress have supported a commutation, including President-elect Barack Obama's
incoming White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, and Texas GOP senators Kay
Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn.
From CNN Politics
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I'm still not sure what they did wrong?
This is long overdue!!!!
These guys did what they should have done and the only person that said the drug dealer didn't have a gun was the drug dealer.
My prayers are with Ramon and Compean and their families and I pray that they can put their lives back together and move forward and know that the vast majority of Americans support them and their actions.
I actually agree with Bush on this issue. The border patrol agents were in a tough position, and they have to make decisions very quickly. I guess it is better to be late then never, for GWB to do something right as president.
about time
3 cheers for President Bush!!!!! This is long overdo and shows drugs will not go past the border. President Obama should look at border control as they are going to come again and again. God help our country.
Well at least they both will still have felony convictions on their record, severely limiting their future employment.
Innocent people don't try to cover up evidence nor try to get others to lie on their behalf.
I'm no fan of Bush, to put it mildly, but he made the perfect call here. Commutation, not pardon.