29 members of Congress ask Rice to keep bounty hunter in U.S.

29 members of Congress ask Rice to keep bounty hunter in U.S.

The Associated PressWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006-->
Published: October 10, 2006

HONOLULU A Colorado congressman announced Tuesday that he and 28 other members of Congress have sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to deny the extradition of Duane "Dog" Chapman to Mexico.
Chapman, who is the star of the popular Hawaii-based A&E show "Dog The Bounty Hunter," was arrested last month along with two of his co-stars for illegal detention and conspiracy in his capture of fugitive convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir, on June 18, 2003, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Chapman was released on $300,000 (€239,270) bail the next day. He must attend extradition hearings to face trial in Mexico, where bounty hunting is considered a crime.
Luster is now serving a 124-year prison term.
"It seems that Mexican authorities are pressing this case only because they are so stung by the embarrassment of failing where Mr. Chapman succeeded," the Republican congressman said in a statement.
All of the signers of the letter listed by Congressman Tom Tancredo are also Republican.