 |
 |
 |
|
|
JW Earns Another Landmark Victory! Government Settles Ramirez Lawsuit on Eve of Trial On Wednesday, September 18, Judicial Watch’s legal team made the trip down to Miami to take on the government in its case on behalf of Ric Ramirez, the former Miami INS agent who exposed widespread anti-Cuban, anti-Hispanic prejudice at the agency. Mr. Ramirez also blew the whistle on Janet Reno’s illegal and brutal Waco-style raid on Elian Gonzalez’s family home in Miami’s Little Havana. In a dramatic, last second change in strategy, the U.S. government abandoned plans to move for dismissal and instead settled the case. The trial was set to begin Monday, September 23. "The terms of the agreement are amicable and favorable," said JW Chairman Larry Klayman. Importantly, the Ramirez settlement contains provisions to hold both the INS and the Justice Department (DOJ) accountable for its actions. If JW and Ramirez discover that the INS and DOJ are not behaving in a manner consistent with the agreement, the government may be subject to contempt proceedings. "The proof’s in the pudding," Mr. Klayman told the Miami Herald in a September 20 interview. "We will be watching carefully." "I’m very pleased everything went well," said Mr. Ramirez, who had to wait until 2 a.m. Thursday morning for the settlement to finally be drafted. It was not until 2 p.m. the next day, that the settlement was signed by all parties after approximately sixteen hours of negotiations. Throughout this case, Judicial Watch had uncovered some major admissions on the part of and against INS officials during a related trial and discovery period earlier this year. For example, former Miami INS Director Robert Wallis admitted that the "proudest moment of his life" was captured in an Associated Press photograph of an INS agent holding a shotgun to the head of an unarmed Gonzalez family security person, Mario Miranda, during the illegal INS raid of the home of Elian’s Miami relatives. Furthermore, INS agents admitted they had made cup holders with the image of a Cuban flag with a line slashed through it, paraphernalia mocking the Miami Cuban-American community as a "Banana Republic" and a box with a cartoon picture of Elian Gonzalez that read, "Elian: kick me." Judicial Watch was also able to establish that INS Commissioner Doris Meissner, likely at the direction of Janet Reno, sought to destroy incriminating e-mail evidence relating to the brutal raid of the home of Elian’s Miami relatives. When JW finished presenting its evidence, Judge Richard Vitaris paved the way for Judicial Watch’s now settled civil rights lawsuit by noting "a serious problem within the INS’ Miami District office," and a "hostile work environment for employees of Cuban-American and Hispanic national origin." The Bush Justice Department and the INS was thus required to reaffirm their commitment to a non-discriminatory workplace for its employees and, importantly, indicated they will not retaliate against Mr. Ramirez or others for exercising their rights.
info@judicialwatch.org • 1-888-JW-ETHIC
Site hosting and technology by Cory Consulting, Inc. © 1997-2004, Judicial Watch, Inc., All rights reserved. |
