PHOTO! What was Mike Huckabee thinking in granting clemency to Maurice Clemmons (picture above)? Today Mike Huckabee’s Maurice Clemmons case, one of many pardons during this term, is under sharp criticism.
Paroled in 2000 after Huckabee commuted his 95 year sentence, Clemmons would continue to commit crimes, being released even just last week. Pierce County released him just one week ago while he faces eight felony counts including a life sentence.
Now dead this weekend in a deadly ambush are officers Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; Ronald Owens, 37; Tina Griswald, 40; and Greg Richards, 42. Huckabee has issued a statement:
“The senseless and savage execution of police officers in Washington State has saddened the nation, and early reports indicate that a person of interest is a repeat offender who once lived in Arkansas and was wanted on outstanding warrants here and Washington State. The murder of any individual is a profound tragedy, but the murder of a police officer is the worst of all murders in that it is an assault on every citizen and the laws we live within.”
Huckabee says the fault is not his but the justice system of two states. Do you agree?
“Should he be found to be responsible for this horrible tragedy, it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State. He was recommended for and received a commutation of his original sentence from 1990. This commutation making him parole eligible and was paroled by the parole board once they determined he met the conditions at that time. He was arrested later for parole violation and taken back to prison to serve his full term, but prosecutors dropped the charges that would have held him. It appears that he has continued to have a string of criminal and psychotic behavior but was not kept incarcerated by either state. This is a horrible and tragic event and if found and convicted the offender should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts and prayers are and should be with the families of those honorable, brave, and heroic police officers.”
