U.S. lawmaker seeks answers after State Department error releases Mexican fugitive from Texas jail

[Rheo]

Fox News:

A former Mexican government official wanted for embezzling millions was arrested in Texas this month, then promptly ordered released by the State Department in a case that has one lawmaker demanding answers.

 

A day after pulling rank on Smith County, Texas, law enforcement officials, the State Department rescinded the order. But Hector Hernandez Javier Villarreal was gone by then.

 

Now Rep. Louie Gohmert is calling for congressional hearings to find out what happened."That's the question: What are the federal officials thinking? The State Department is screwing up by ordering locals to release these fugitives," Gohmert, R-Texas, told FoxNews.com. "I don't know if it's corruption or incompetence, but it's one or the other and in my experience with federal government, I'm guessing it's incompetence."

 

"When we ran the check on the shotgun, then all of a sudden everyone in federal government became interested -- ATF, (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), FBI, Homeland Security, Immigration (and Customs Enforcement) all showed up," Smith said.

 

He said Homeland Security officials had told his department that Villarreal was a high-profile and wanted fugitive.

"We placed them in jail on money-laundering charges, seized the vehicle and the money, ICE came and picked them up from our jail and took them to Dallas and that's the last we've seen or heard of them," Smith said.

 

Villarreal and Botello posted bond, and on Feb. 6 were released into the custody of Homeland Security and ICE officers. They were taken to a Dallas detention center for deportation.

 

That's when the State Department intervened, according to Smith. He said Homeland Security officials called to tell him the federal diplomatic agency had ordered Villarreal and his wife released.

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More Fast and Furious crap?