Ramos/Compean: evidence in van; injuries worse than reported; other agents fired; Feinstein

U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton - who prosecuted the Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean - said that there was no evidence that could be used to identify the drug smuggler the agents supposedly shot as the driver of the van involved. However, it appears that he left his cell phone behind in the van, and Sutton apparently didn't try to use that against him. That also appears to contradict statements Sutton made to WND.

The WashTimes offers the muted editorial "False allegations in border case", only saying that "DHS officials should have taken more care not to mislead".

Rep. Tom Tancredo and representatives of Dana Rohrabacher visited Ramos in prison, and says that his injuries were worse than reported:

"To underestimate the seriousness of the assault on (Ramos) is a disingenuous characterization by the prison officials," [Tara Setmayer, Rohrabacher's communications director] said. "He clearly is the victim of a vicious attack. And the ineptitude demonstrated by prison officials with such a high-profile prisoner is troubling."

FWIW: Bill O'Reilly says he's going to hold warren Constance Reese accountable.

And:

Two Border Patrol agents who testified against two co-workers convicted of shooting a drug smuggler will be fired for changing their stories about events surrounding the shooting, according to documents obtained by the Daily Bulletin.

Sources inside the Border Patrol also say Oscar Juarez, a third agent who testified against Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, resigned from the agency last month shortly before he was to be fired.

All three agents gave sworn testimony against Ramos and Compean for the U.S. Attorney's Office, which successfully prosecuted the shooting case in March. The agents were given immunity in exchange for their testimony despite changing their accounts of the incident several times...

And, Senator Dianne Feinstein has written letters to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff and Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Harley Lappin asking for information on the case and complaining about their lengthy sentences and the lack of care prison officials took. She and Sen. Patrick Leahy might conduct a Judiciary Committee investigation.

Immigration2007a · Sat, 02/10/2007 - 10:38 · · Importance: 1