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Border Agents' Sentences Upheld

Remember the two border agents who shot an unarmed drug dealer at the Mexican border? After their conviction, right wing politicans like Tom Tancredo were outraged at their 11-12 year sentences and introduced a bill (pdf) in Congress to prevent federal funds from being used to incarcerate them. They also clamored for a pardon from President Bush.

Today, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld their senttences and the most serious of counts against them.

The Court said this was a classic he said- he said situation. The Government's facts differed from the border agents' facts, the jury was provided both and chose to believe the Government. As to the sentence, maybe if President Bush doesn't pardon them, those right wing politicians will take a second look at the harshness of mandatory minimum sentences: [More...]

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