DEVELOPING--

Under questioning by Rep. John Culberson, a Department of Homeland Security representative admitted that his department did NOT have evidence to back up a number of claims made to members of Congress last fall to bolster its case against imprisoned agents Ramos and Compean, including: that the agents “wanted to shoot a Mexican,” confessed to shooting an unarmed suspect, were belligerent to investigators, lied and submitted false reports, and stated during the investigation that the illegal alien did not pose a threat.
According to Culberson, "(DHS Inspector General) Richard Skinner admitted yesterday under oath that his top deputies gave members of Congress false information painting Border Patrol agents as rogue cops who were not in fear for their lives and who were 'out to shoot Mexicans."

Government lied to Congress to bolster its case

Basically, the government has admitted that its officials lied to Congress in an effort to bolster its case in the public against agents Ramos and Compean. These charges have caused many to question the validity of the agents' claims that they are innocent and acted in response to an imminent threat from an illegal alien drug runner.

The truth is, Johnny Sutton and our govenrnment turned what is at most a procedural violation (punishable by at the most a few days unpaid leave) and made it into a witchhunt against our agents.

As Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said in a speech from the floor of the House on 2/7/07, "The initial decision to prosecue the two border patrol agents instead of the drug smugglers was indefensible, period. Sutton's only defense... has been to lie and to demonize the two border patrol agents."

Grassfire.org Petitions Featured on CNN and on House Floor

As this news was breaking, Grassfire.org's Steve Elliott and Ron De Jong took part in briefings on Capitol Hill and delivered over 304,000 petitions. The petition delivery was featured on CNN's Lou Dobbs broadcast. In addition, during a stirring speech on the floor of the House, Rep. Rohrabacher held up and prominently displayed your Grassfire petitions in a passionate plea for the President to listen to the petitions of the Americans people. Rep. Jones pleaded for the President to not ignore the voices of the American people.

Action Items

1. Help flood the White House, Congress and the Justice Department with faxes demanding a pardon for these agents and an investigation of DHS and Johnny Sutton.

2. Call the White House now: 202-456-1111.

3. Sign up to FireSociety and the discussion -- it takes just minutes to sign up.

Resources
World Net Daily here and here
Statement by Rep. John Culberson here

(Video) Rep. Rohrabacher's moving Floor speech
and presentation of Grassfire.org petitions: