Keeping the faith

immigration, Keeping the faith

Sam Johnson calls for prosecutor of Ramos and Compean to testify before Congress

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Reprinted from his web site:

Sam Johnson calls on Johnny Sutton to testify before Congress under oath on protecting a Mexican drug smuggler over U.S. border agents

Washington, Jul 25, 2007 —

Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) demanded that Johnny Sutton go before a House panel and testify under oath why he protected an illegal-immigrant drug smuggler over United States border agents, despite knowing full well that the smuggler had been caught running drugs again.

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton changed course and has announced that he will no longer testify before a House Foreign Affairs panel on the case involving two United States border agents sentenced to long-term prison sentences for shooting a Mexican drug runner in the buttocks. They feared for their lives and thought the drug runner was armed.

His refusal to testify comes in the wake of a special discovery. Today at a news conference on Capitol Hill, U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (46th Dist.-Calif) revealed official border crossing documents that indicate the drug smuggler in the Ramos and Compean Border Agent case was issued unfettered access to the United States after his involvement in a second drug smuggling incident [emphasis added mine]. The documents clearly prove the drug smuggler, who was given immunity to testify against Border Agents Ramos and Compean, was issued two more border passes after the government became aware of Aldrete-Davila’s involvement in a second load of narcotics. The paperwork includes six border crossing cards total.

“This is gross, just gross. Johnny Sutton needs to testify or resign. Johnny Sutton needs to declare under oath why he gave a Mexican drug smuggler a free pass to testify against border agents who were doing their jobs,” said Johnson.

Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are currently serving 11 and 12 year prison terms, respectively. The plight of the jailed border agents has garnered intense scrutiny because of the severe prosecution and unfair conviction of the agents for shooting a fleeing “illegal drug smuggler during an altercation after 740 pounds (over $1 million street value) of marijuana was discovered in his van near the border.

“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,” says Rohrabacher.

“Obviously, giving a free border crossing pass to a known drug smuggler either reflects total incompetence or warped sense of prosecutorial priorities which has plagued this case from the beginning. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have not been forthcoming about producing documents in this case and have both declined to appear before my Subcommittee to account for their actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office withheld critical information from the jury and have continued to do so with Congress,” said Rohrabacher.

“When it comes to our U.S. border agents who are just trying to do their jobs, a United States District Attorney has a civic obligation to bring to the public’s attention any evidence that would reflect upon the credibility of a witness or dramatically change the outcome of the case.

Johnny Sutton gave the drug runner free access to cross our borders on condition that he would not smuggle drugs again. Later, Johnny Sutton found out that the witness was running drugs but still let him testify as an ‘innocent victim.’ By allowing the drug runner to testify, Johnny Sutton let a known liar testify against our own border agents.”

For months now Johnson has called on President Bush to pardon the agents from their lengthy prison terms, sadly, with little success. “Hopefully this new information will change the President’s mind,” concluded Johnson.

Contact information is provided after the break.

Iraq, Keeping the faith, War on Terror

Marine’s Memorial in Michigan Vandalized

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Northern Michigan’s 9&10news.com (CBS TV affiliate) has the story:

“Its the idea that somebody vandalizing something that means so much to so many, I have trouble understanding,” an anguished Linda Fabian said while viewing a memorial to a fallen Marine from Mt. Pleasant, MI, that had been vandalized.

Lest they be forgotten memoria Mt Pleasant MI

When Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth died in Iraq on November 13, 2004, Fabian got to work making sure Ellsworth and all the troops who put their lives on the line would not be forgotten. Fabian’s own son served two tours in Iraq.

Lance Corporal Justin M. Ellsworth

“It wasn’t about how big it was, it wasn’t about how extraordinary of a monument, its what it meant and what it represented,” Fabian said.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

Police say someone twisted what it represents. They bent a twenty-foot flagpole, draped that flag on the monument, burned a part of the flag, stole a bronze eagle, and destroyed a lot of the flowers and plants that surround it.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

“So many kids from around here have been to Iraq, are going to Iraq; they’re protecting the very people that are doing this to our monument,” Fabian said.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

The Mount Pleasent Police Department is investigating yet, “At this point it’s pretty wide open. We don’t have any suspects or major leads to go on,” a spokesman said. Police hope the community will bring them answers to who did this to their community’s monument.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

Fabian said the strange thing is, in all the damage that was done, the daisies here are the one thing that survived. They were Justin Ellsworth’s favorite flower. “Justin loved daisies and if you look, they only thing that really survived are Justin’s daisies,” Fabian pointed out.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

If you would like to donate money to help fix the memorial in Mount Pleasant, there is an account set up at Isabella Bank & Trust under the name Justin Ellsworth.

The memorial in Mount Pleasant was designed by Gregg Garvey, of Florida, as part of the Lest They Be Forgotten memorial effort. Mr. Garvey began his not for profit campaign to create, establish and help maintain hometown remembrances of our men and women who have lost their lives defending the United States of America in our war against terrorism after his own son, Army Sergeant Justin W. “Hobie” Garvey, was killed in an ambush in Iraq on July 20, 2003.

A video report by 9&10 News’ Mona Nair and photojournalist Bridgette Pacholka can be viewed here.