CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight-Transcript
DOBBS: Congressman Duncan Hunter is sponsor of the legislation calling for a pardon for imprisoned former Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean. It continues to gain support. To date, 86 Republicans have signed on and now four Democrats, as well.
Joining me now two of those Democrats cosponsoring the legislation, Congressman Bart Gordon, Congressman Lincoln Davis. Gentlemen, good to have you here.
REP. BART GORDON (D), TENNESSEE: Thank you, Lou.
DOBBS: The obvious question, and I'll ask this of both of you, is why did you decide now?
GORDON: Well, I think it's important thing to do. I'm afraid that officers Ramos and Compean are going to get a raw deal. And that that's the message that's going to be going to really be something that's going to demoralize the rest of our border agents as well as at a time when we're trying to down the amount of border agents, it's going to be hard to recruit agents. So I think it's time to get the facts on the table.
REP. LINCOLN DAVIS (D), TENNESSEE: I think it also sends a message to the other Border Patrols that you do have support in Congress. I think it also sends a message to this White House that who actually appointed those different individuals, the attorney general, the -- Sutton from Texas who did the prosecuting, as well as the judge that, you know, Mr. President, let's look into this thing. And we're going to ask that that happen.
So I hope what it does is let him understand -- let the White House understand that the Justice Department, that this is about partisanship till we get this situation straightened out.
DOBBS: You've gone through the facts of this case as they continue to unfold. On this broadcast, we have reported diligently and, certainly, accurately that this -- this prosecution by the U.S. attorneys in the western district of Texas, it cannot be explained based on the facts that are before us. Do you feel the same way?
DAVIS: It's quite difficult for me to look and read the newspapers and find there was over 700 pounds of marijuana in a van. This person from Mexico, who's here illegally leaves the van and starts running away. I'm not sure exactly all the particulars of it.
But it just seems strange to me that we would prosecute two Border Patrols and send them to jail for ten, 12 years when they're actually defending this country. And also, here sits a van load of marijuana that we put on our streets.
DOBBS: I don't mean to interrupt. The picture that we put up is the picture of the person who was given immunity to testify against these agents. One of the questions...
GORDON: That's the other thing, Lou. We need to know about that immunity. We need to know about the facts that haven't come out. And that's the reason we need some kind of vehicle to get the full information on the table. And that's a real concern of mine.
DOBBS: Well, it appears that the Bush White House, the Bush Justice Department and the Bush-appointed U.S. attorney and his designees in the western district sought this prosecution, which the Border Patrol counsel, the Border Patrol union, everyone that we've talked to in law enforcement and actually the judicial system, says should have been handled administratively.
They decided to prosecute, and they're saying now that this case began with the Mexican consulate. A drug dealer with seven -- a $1 million worth of drugs who was not subsequently indicted for a second drug deal, according to various reports.
Why aren't the Democrats all over this? If not for justice, for partisan reasons. I mean, I can't understand this unless there's something else going on here.
GORDON: Well, first of all, you've got to keep in mind that we were never notified. I was never notified that there was even a bill.
DAVIS: Neither was I.
GORDON: No one asked me to be on the bill. I got the information from your show and from constituents at home. And so I approached Hunter and said I want to be a part of it. And so I think that's a part of the problem. There hasn't been an effort to reach out.
DAVIS: And I think what the bill should say, as well, we should call the president to at least intervene. He's the only person in this nation that can actually give a pardon or clemency to these two individuals.
There's been no movement there. So it's my hope what this will legislation will do is at least wake up the White House, wake up this administration and the Justice Department that there are folks out here who are concerned about what's going on. Let's see justice prevail for two individuals who I think are falsely accused.
DOBBS: Gentlemen, we thank you very much for being here. We are delighted that you're signing on, as I've made it clear as I possibly could. I think this is an absolute travesty, an outrage.
And I believe this administration, this president, this attorney general, and the U.S. attorney in Texas, Johnny Sutton, homeland security itself also has a great deal to explain and I believe a great deal to apologize to these two men and to the American people.
DAVIS: And I think even the judge who was appointed and confirmed in 2003 by this White House. And all those have some, in my opinion, have some explaining to do.
DOBBS: Congressmen, we thank you very much. Congressman Gordon, we thank you. Congressman Davis, we appreciate it.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/05/ldt.01.htm