In what could be his final act of clemency, President Bush commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents who were convicted of shooting a Mexican drug dealer. The failure to pardon the agents previously, sparked much debate among both Republicans and Democrats.
The two agents were convicted in 2006 of shooting admitted drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks as he fled across the Rio Grande, away from an abandoned van load of marijuana. The border agents argued during their trials that they believed the smuggler was armed and that they shot him in self defense. The prosecutor in the case said there was no evidence linking the smuggler to the van of marijuana. The prosecutor also said the border agents didn't report the shooting and tampered with evidence by picking up several spent shell casings.
Although the two men have not recieved a full fledged pardon from Bush, their sentence has been commuted because Bush aruges that the 10 year sentence both men have recieved may be too much. Both men are expected to be released from prision within the next two months, both having served about two years of their respective sentences.
lol @ intellectual. Between your name and that comment I think I'm your new biggest fan!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. Two violent criminals are sent back to society while millions of non-violent drug consumers are imprisoned by the same system. Shows how demented the system really is.
ReplyDeleteThey weren't pardoned. They were simply freed from jail. Seems a reasonable compromise to me.
ReplyDeleteOnly a d-bag like Scoot could be offended by it.
Demented indeed.