The pardons went to individuals who has served as cleaning and staff in the Gov.’s Mansion for 8 years.
It is customary to pardon trustee’s who distinguished themselves in this way. The CNN story omits how many past Governors have done the exact same thing.
Judicial activism.
Look, I don’t like the pardons.
But governors have that power. He exercised it. End of story. The legislature might wish to investigate — the judge for judicial overreach. You are keeping a man’s freedom from him in an extra-constitutional manner. Like it or not, he was pardoned!
Hmmmm. I seem to recall Cornelia Wallace saying something about the murderers being the best trustee staff, now that you mention it.
The trustees at the Mansion are not required to be there for 8 years. Usually 2-4 years is the norm. They go through an extensive screening process by the DOC prior to being assigned to the Mansion and it is known that they will be released in some way (clemency, pardon, suspension of sentence) unless they screw up. I have never known of anyone that was sent back to prison...but it could have happened.
This practice has been going on for at least 50+ years that I am aware of and probably longer than that.
With that said, I do not agree with the release of violent criminals, serving either in the Mansion or in prison!
One of these “trustees” killed his wife as she held their 6 week old baby. I don’t care how well he polished the furniture at the governor’s mansion.
I don’t believe 250 or more prisoners worked at the mansion.
Thanks for the additional insights. Skepticism is a lost art.
You all can flame the messenger all you like, I never opined my editorial comments on the issue, I merely stated the facts. The Governor followed long held tradition, and many of the pardoned were domestic staff. Beyond that I presume no one has the actual DOC files, and therefore knows the particulars of each case. If I am wrong I’m sure you’ll correct me.