House Proceeding 01-21-09 on Jan 21st, 2009 :: 0:17:20 to 0:20:15
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0:17:16 to 0:17:37( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: mr. jones: mr. speaker, thank you. mr. speaker, on september 4, 2006, i first stood before this house to call attention to the case of two united states border agents who were convicted in federal court for shooting and wounding a mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of

0:17:20 to 0:20:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Walter B. Jones

0:17:38 to 0:17:59( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: marijuana across our borders in 2005. now, mr. speaker, more than 2 1/2 years and more than 45 speeches later, i stand before this house to thank president bush for heeding the calls of the ameran people by commuting the sentences of agents ramos and compean. the agents entered federal prison on january 17, 2007, to

0:18:00 to 0:18:20( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: begin serving sentences of 11 and 12 years respectively. both men are now due to be rele 20, 2009, after serving 26 months. like the millions of americans who have followed the case over the past several years, i am so relieved to see the unjust imprisonment of these

0:18:21 to 0:18:41( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: distinguished law enforcement officers finally come to an end. as these men sat in federal prison for two years, my heart ached for them and their families. while i firmly believe that these agents never should have been prosecuted, i am very grateful that president bush has used his authority to close this ugly chapter in their lives.

0:18:42 to 0:19:03( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: i will do everything in my power to see that ramos and compean are able to reclaim their lives and in due time will be fully exonerated with their pardon. the prosecution and imprisonment of agents ramos and compean has been a black mark for the united states justice system. its legacy will not be forgotten

0:19:04 to 0:19:25( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: by those of news congress who have criticized the indictment of these two men. the facts of t shown as the judge stated on december 3, 2007, during the agents' appeal, and i quote judge jolly, the government overreacted here and for some reason this one got out of hand. the truth of why this indictment

0:19:26 to 0:19:46( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: was able to move forward and get out of hand still deserves to be investigated. the truth of this indictment was able to move forward and get out of hand should still be investigated. i repeat that, mr. speaker, because it should be investigated. however, it is clear that president bush understood one of

0:19:47 to 0:20:08( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: the most troubling aspects of this case, the agents were charged under a statute intended for violent criminals carrying guns, not for law enforcement officers acting in the line of duty. this statute which carries a sentence of no less than 10 years was enacted by congress to discourage criminals from carrying guns. it was never intended to apply to law enforcement officers who

0:20:09 to 0:20:15( Edit History Discussion )

Walter B. Jones: are required to carry a firearm in their job. this was clearly a sentence ramos and compean should never