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Reminder: Mike Huckabee Granted Clemency to a Criminal Who Murdered Four Police Officers
Townhall.com ^ | 5/6/2015 | Katie Pavlich

Posted on 05/06/2015 1:08:53 PM PDT by Servant of the Cross

In case you missed it yesterday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announced another run for the White House. In an already crowded GOP field, there are many questions surrounding whether Huckabee can successfully make it through the primary. Putting the horse race aside, pundits seem to be forgetting a very important and devastating decision Huckabee made during his time as governor.

In 2000, despite objections from prosecutors, Huckabee granted clemency to a man named Maurice Clemmons. Background from the Arkansas Leader:

Several prosecutors around the state are upset with Gov. Huckabee for grant- ing clemency to violent criminals, but he is blaming the prosecutors for often not seeking the maximum penalty and keeping felons locked up longer.

Until now, Huckabee has refused to comment on his controversial policy of making violent prisoners eligible for parole– they include murderers, armed robbers and rapists, who often return to a life of crime after they’re freed – but in a statement to The Leader this week, he lashed out at prosecutors for not doing more to keep prisoners behind bars – to which Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley had this response: “That’s a load of baloney.”

“I’m offended as a prosecutor and as a citizen. He can blame the prosecutors, but ultimately he’s the man responsible,” Jegley says. “He’s the only one who can sign on the dotted line."

Jegley cites numerous examples of Huckabee’s freeing felons who go on committing more crimes and wind up back in prison.

Maurice Clemmons received a 35-year sentence in the early 1990s for armed robbery and theft. His sentence was commuted in May 2000, and he was let out three months later.

The following March, Clemmons committed two armed robberies and other crimes and was sentenced to 10 years. You’d think they’d keep him locked up after that, but no: He was paroled last March and is now wanted for aggravated robbery.

If Huckabee decides to set these criminals free, Jegley says, at least “he ought to give an accounting. I can’t imagine why in the world they’d want them released from jail. There’s a good reason we’re afraid of them. The sad truth is that a significant number of people re-offend.”

Nine years later, Clemmons was arrested and charged for the murders of four Washington State police officers. The officers left behind husbands, wives and children:

Maurice Clemmons, the 37-year-old Tacoma man being sought for questioning in the killing this morning of four Lakewood police officers, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.

This is just one example of many. Huckabee has an alarming record of releasing criminals who end up re-committing serious and violent crimes like rape, assault and murder. That record should be up for scrutiny as he attempts, again, to make it into the White House.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 2016election; arkansas; biggovernment; election2016; huckabee; mikehuckabee; pardon
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To: dainbramaged
Clemmons was pardoned by Huckabee in 2000. Nine years later he killed four police officers.

What part of that don't you understand?

21 posted on 05/06/2015 1:51:02 PM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Servant of the Cross
This is but the tip of a huge iceberg in regards to Huckabee's record of granting clemency while Governor of Arkansas.

From an AP story in 2007:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – As governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee had a hand in twice as many pardons and commutations as his three predecessors combined.

The case he's asked about most concerns the parole of a castrated rapist who later killed a woman.

Although the Republican presidential contender and Southern Baptist preacher plays down any personal involvement in that release, Huckabee granted 1,033 pardons and commutations in his 10 1/2 years as governor of Arkansas. The acts of clemency benefited the stepson of a staff member, murderers who worked at the governor's mansion, a rock star and inmates who received good words from their pastors.

---snip---

During his years as governor, Huckabee granted clemency an average of about once every four days. Huckabee's successor, Mike Beebe, has issued 40 so far this year, fewer than one a week. Bill Clinton, Frank White and Tucker granted 507 clemencies in the 17 1/2 years they served as governor.

Read more sordid details of specific cases here >>> Mike Huckabee's Clemency Record Is Under Scrutiny
22 posted on 05/06/2015 1:54:46 PM PDT by Unmarked Package (Cruz to Victory 2016)
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To: Unmarked Package
Yep. This was all covered here at FR ... In 2007! [Huckabee's Plethora of Pardons ...]

And the Huckster is gonna force us all to do it again.


23 posted on 05/06/2015 2:01:09 PM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Servant of the Cross

One of the creepiest families in politics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Huckabee


24 posted on 05/06/2015 2:07:14 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Servant of the Cross

Well, but he was such a nice cop-killer.


25 posted on 05/06/2015 2:10:16 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: VideoDoctor
Norris could be in the early stages of dementia.

One does not simply tell Chuck Norris he has dementia:)

26 posted on 05/06/2015 2:10:24 PM PDT by Ken H (What happens on the internet stays on the internet.)
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To: Servant of the Cross
 photo swampingthe field_zpsgavl2wzi.jpg He just entered the field, the 'GOP establishment' will clean up his past.
27 posted on 05/06/2015 2:16:02 PM PDT by RetSignman (Obama is the walking, talking middle finger in the face of America)
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To: Ken H

It’s not so much dementia but hoping against what the evidence says.


28 posted on 05/06/2015 2:21:58 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Liberals keep winning; so the American people must now be all-liberal all the time.)
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To: Servant of the Cross

A dedicated Huckabee supporter won’t listen to the evidence to the contrary.


29 posted on 05/06/2015 2:26:15 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Liberals keep winning; so the American people must now be all-liberal all the time.)
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To: Servant of the Cross

Anyone who did this and was a decent human being would know that he’s not a good choice to run for President and would not try. Taking responsibility for this egregious mistake means knowing you aren’t fit to be the leader of the free world, which is fine considering most of us are not.

He felt his son didn’t deserve formal punishment for torturing and hanging a puppy to death.

He lies about little things like his surgery. Hillary does the same thing. These are people who feel they are entitled and don’t have honesty or honor among their traits. They do not belong in leadership.


30 posted on 05/06/2015 2:31:26 PM PDT by Yaelle ("You're gonna fly away, Glad you're going my way... I love it when we're Cruzin together")
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To: Yaelle

Well said.


31 posted on 05/06/2015 2:32:40 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Second Amendment First; 2ndDivisionVet
The story is misleading:

Maurice Clemmons
16-years old
Aggravated Robbery, Theft of Property

May 3, 2000: Arkansas Governor Huckabee reduced Clemmons’ 108 year
sentence to 47 years which made Clemmons eligible for parole immediately.

July 13, 2000: Clemmons went before the parole board which grants his parole.

August 1, 2000: Clemmons is released from prison to parole.

July 13, 2001: He committed a technical violation of his parole and had new pending charges for robbery. He was sentenced to 10 years to be served concurrently.

March 18, 2004:
The parole board released Clemmons only to Washington State because he had family here.

March 29, 2004:
Clemmons was transferred to Washington for supervision under the Interstate Compact agreement.

Washington Supervision History:
Until May 2009, his supervision was relatively uneventful.

More: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/12/01/2010399732.pdf

32 posted on 05/06/2015 5:35:17 PM PDT by donna (I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth. - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: Yaelle; trisham
See post #32. Gov. Huckabee in the victim of Christian haters.
33 posted on 05/06/2015 5:37:36 PM PDT by donna (I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth. - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: Servant of the Cross
Go on with what? I'll tell you seriously, you're talking about specks in your brother's eye.
34 posted on 05/06/2015 5:46:15 PM PDT by donna (I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth. - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: donna

Don’t you believe that. He is no victim. He is a solid pathological liar. This is a man who wears Christianity like a wolf wears a sheep coat while slipping amount the flock. I don’t know or care what is in his heart, but he is a self promoting phony in his ACTIONS. We can do better. He spoiled the race last time and he will again if gullible people think he is Jesus’ best friend.


35 posted on 05/06/2015 5:48:46 PM PDT by Yaelle ("You're gonna fly away, Glad you're going my way... I love it when we're Cruzin together")
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To: donna

His son needs to answer for what he did to that dog too! sickening stuff from a sickening family


36 posted on 05/06/2015 5:55:55 PM PDT by bjcoop
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To: Servant of the Cross

shhhhhhh. dems like that sort of thing.


37 posted on 05/06/2015 6:19:38 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer seems to be working.)
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To: Yaelle
We just need to stick to facts when attacking the man.

That's what FR is for, clarifying and revealing the truth instead of believing gossip or the liberal media.

38 posted on 05/06/2015 6:28:47 PM PDT by donna (I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth. - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: bjcoop
You have no way of knowing what the son did or did not do to the dog and none of it means the father is a bad man.
39 posted on 05/06/2015 6:31:05 PM PDT by donna (I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth. - Barack Hussein Obama)
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