Contact: Don Swarthout, President, Christians Reviving America's Values (CRAVE), 859-219-1222, 859-619-2811 cell
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- The prison sentences of two Border Agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos have been commuted by President Bush and will be effective on March 20, 2009.
Don Swarthout, President of Christians Reviving America's Values (CRAVE) was very happy with President Bush's decision since the President had been opposed to pardoning these two Border Agents in the past.
Swarthout said, "I wrote a personal letter to the President in December and asked him to pardon Ramos and Compean. In the letter I appealed to his belief in being a forgiving Christian man. I could not be any happier than I am today for these two Border Agents and for their families."
President Bush is quoted as saying he now believes the sentences were too harsh and that the two Border Agents have suffered long enough for their crimes. Swarthout still believes that these two Border Agents were wrongfully convicted for simply doing their jobs and for doing their jobs very well.
In fact, Swarthout filed an Ethics Complaint against the Prosecuting Attorney in this case last May. Swarthout asked the Texas Bar Association to investigate the Prosecuting Attorney's office for mishandling the case. The request was based upon the similarity of the investigation of Prosecuting Attorney Mike Nifong's handling of the Duke Rape Case.
Aldrete Davila, the drug smuggler whom Ramos and Compean were charged with shooting in the buttocks, was given immunity by the Prosecuting Attorney's office in return for his testimony in court.
Davila has since been convicted of smuggling a huge amount of marijuana into the United States from Mexico.
Swarthout said, "CRAVE sent thousands of letters and cards of support to Ignacio Ramos while he was in solitary confinement. I do want to thank our supporters for sending those cards and letters to our offices. They were greatly appreciated by the Border Agents and by all of us at CRAVE."
Swarthout concluded by saying, "I do not want to take anything away from this very happy occasion for these fine Border Agents and their families. The commutation of their sentences was a long time in coming, but we are all very happy they will be released from federal prison on March 20th of this year."
