Ramos and Compean

U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, earned a mention in this Associated Press story for opposing a House bid to address the criminal cases of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Alonso Compean.

"Ramos and Compean are serving 11- and 12-year federal prison sentences, respectively, for the 2005 shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila on the Texas border near El Paso," the article said. "The case has caused a furor among conservative lawmakers and on talk radio across the country."

On a voice vote, the House approved a measure that would bar the two former agents from being kept in any federal prison.

"Democrats such as Alan Mollohan of West Virginia opposed the attempt to free the two men, arguing that it is not Congress' place to interfere in criminal cases, particularly when they are under appeal as the Ramos and Compean case it," the article said. "But Democrats opted not to call for a roll call vote. It could be dropped from the bill during House-Senate negotiations this fall."

Mollohan chairs the Committee on Appropriations subcommittee that previously oversaw the Border Patrol, before it became part of the Department of Homeland Security.