Senator John Cornyn (Republican) is now asking President Bush (Republican) why he can pardon his friend Scooter Libby while allowing two border patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, to serve 10 year sentences for shooting a drug smuggler. His statement today from National Review Online:

"I am deeply concerned with some of the information that came to light at today's Committee hearing today. Among other things, it would appear that the government allowed this drug dealer to violate the terms of his immunity agreement with impunity. Further, it would appear that this drug dealer was allowed to commit perjury with impunity. I would also note that several jurors have since come forward to state that evidence which they were prevented from hearing would have changed their verdict. I have serious concerns with the government's decision to suppress certain information from this jury. Finally, I am perhaps most concerned with the very excessive prison terms that were handed down to these two individuals.

"Agents Ramos and Compean were on the front lines; their duty was to enforce our immigration laws and protect this nation. The prosecutors had a duty to dispense equal justice under the law. It seems to me an open question whether Agents Ramos and Compean were treated differently because of their status as law enforcement officers. What I do know, however, is that if the Scooter Libby case is one which the President believes was excessive then I have a hard time understanding why these two individuals would not warrant a similar review."

This issue has been smoldering in the background of conservative ranks for awhile now, but I am surprised that a high profile Republican senator has been willing to challenge the administration on this. That's a good thing, but a little surprising that it's a Republican. Where are the Democrats on this issue? This is a golden opportunity for them to contrast the presidents pardoning of a friend of his while letting two hispanic federal agents rot in prison. Are the Democrats more concerned about the rights of illegal immigrant drug smugglers? I doubt it, yet so far only Dianne Feinstein has latched on to this issue. That should change and this issue may blow up at any time.