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Subscribe to RSSOn his last days in office, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour confused many of his constituents when, without explanation, he granted pardons or early releases to more than 200 convicts. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
Many of the more than 200 pardons by Haley Barbour during his last day as Mississippi's governor seemed to have been done in haste, with information missing from the clemency warrants -- which did not have the “look of full technical and procedural regularity,” experts say.
Sentencing information for many of those pardoned, given clemency or granted early release in one of Barbour's final acts as governor was not included on many of the clemency warrants. And, one of the documents even had a semicolon instead of the date the person was discharged on, said P.S. Ruckman Jr., an associate professor of political science at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., who reviewed each of the executive orders.
A typical presidential pardon, said Ruckman, would include standard information, such as offense committed and when the crime occurred.
"So I went to those warrants expecting to find that kind of standard information and ... most of them had maybe, I would say, half of that information. The rest of them were missing some date, one way or another, or some piece of information, like not telling you what the sentence was,” he said.
"When you don’t know how severe the punishment was, then you know, I guess you could be of such a mind to say, well, he was hiding that information so a standard person ... couldn’t kind of see how egregious some of these offenses were," he added.
But Ruckman said he didn't think that was the case. "I think it was just a matter of they were in a rush and they were pumping these things out fast, and so they just didn’t bother to fine track down that information and, or, to write it in the clemency warrant."
Former Mississippi governor Gov. Haley Barbour's pardons may have violated the state constitution. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
Barbour: I followed Parole Board recommendations
Following a public outcry over his action, Barbour issued a statement Wednesday evening saying 189 of those pardoned were already out of prison and 13 of the 26 inmates released had cost the state a lot of money because of medical expenses.
Of the 214 cases, 198 received full, complete and unconditional pardons, while the rest was a mix of medical and conditional suspensions of sentences plus a conditional clemency.
"My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases," said the statement, reported by WTVA of Tupelo.
Mississippi Circuit Judge Tomie Green has temporarily blocked the release of 21 inmates over questions about whether a law had been followed that requires the publication -- 30 days in advance -- of legal notice of plans to pardon, The Associated Press reported.
“Bill Clinton’s clemency warrants had that kind of look toward the very end when he pardoned all those people," Ruckman said. "Those warrants are just a big mess, and it took a while for scholars to go through them … because they failed to kind of follow the normal procedures and so, actually for some people, there weren’t ... any warrants at all to be found.
"It wasn’t because they were hiding anything … it was just being done at the last minute,” he added.
What made Barbour's actions different were the number of "wholesale pardons of people guilty of violent crimes” and that he had issued less than a dozen pardons during his eight-year term -- and people were only expecting up to 10 more as he left office, said Matt Steffey, a professor of criminal and constitutional law at Mississippi College in Jackson.
Tiffany Brewer, whose sister was killed by one of the those pardoned, shares her reaction to a Mississippi judge granting a temporary block of the release of 21 inmates, who were among the 200 either pardoned or given medical release by Republican Gov. Haley Barbour before he left office Tuesday.
Some of the crimes prisoners received pardons for included murder, manslaughter, robbery, kidnapping and rape.
“This appears to be concluded and issued in haste,” Steffey said of the clemency action, noting his first reaction to the pardons and warrants "was that it did not have the look of full technical and procedural regularity that you usually see. It just didn’t.”
"I think that this left everybody on the outside scrambling and wondering what exactly was the process inside the governor's office,” he added. "Normally, we hear out of Gov. Barbour a call to law and order ... and it seems like less than a full measure of accountability is in place here.”
A telephone call placed to the Parole Board on the pardons' process was not immediately returned.
Why did Barbour wait?
Ruckman noted that though last-minute pardons are fairly common, recommendations from a parole board don't show up overnight.
"This is a power he just completely ignored all but, and then right before he leaves office ... 200, so that looks kind of egregious," he said. "There’s one guy in the pool whose offense was committed 51 years ago … is it really plausible to say that guy never deserved clemency until Barbour’s last day in office? I just don’t buy that."
Some in Mississippi have speculated that Barbour, a popular governor, had decided the pardons were in the public interest, Steffey said.
But others, including relatives of some victims, have expressed outrage.
Slaying victim's sister to Barbour: 'I want answers'
"Barbour essentially told the public, 'Well, people just misunderstand what’s going on,'" Steffey said. "Perhaps they misunderstand because the governor didn’t explain to the public what he was doing and why … how would the public know that many of these people are not in prison or have served their time or are deceased, because no statement accompanied these acts of clemency."
In the end, Barbour's actions "cast a shadow" over what should be celebratory days for those receiving the pardons, Ruckman said.
“This is the shame of it all. I have no doubt that many, if not most, of the people in there … were well deserving," he said. "The way this was done at the last second … kind of makes it look shady and suspicious, and there’s no need for that."
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Barbour is a total Idiot.......................
I suspect some of those inmates offered Barbour a Big Mac & Fries in exchange for their pardon.
Unfortunately, this is a power granted to the chief executive in both state and the federal government. There is no requirement for any explanation and no ability to review or challenge the pardons. About the only way any of these pardons could be overturned would be if there was evidence that there was some form of corruption or other illegal act or influence involved in the granting of these pardons. Somehow, I doubt any of that exists. It sounds like the majority of the people pardoned were already out of prison, so in those cases, there has been little harm done. The ones that are of concern are the violent offenders that were still in prison and have now been released. It sounds from the article like many of these have been held up, at least temporarily, since they say that 21 people who were granted pardons are still being held pending a ruling on the state constitutional issue of the 30 day notice requirement. Only 26 were still in prison to start with, so it sounds like only five people have actually been released from prison so far. Hopefully none of the five that have already been released are violent offenders, although it sounds like at least one of them was. It also seems that half of those slated to be released were being released to try and save the state money on their medical care. Not a great reason to release a violent criminal, but if they are terminal and no longer a threat to anyone it is at least understandable.
Since Barbour is no longer the governor he can't go back and redo them with the 30 day notice. The main question is whether the Mississippi state supreme court will find this violation to be of enough significance to overturn the granting of these pardons. Hopefully, the state supreme court will find that this challenge is valid and significant enough that these violent offenders will not be released. Rapists and murderers do not deserve clemency.
It's mississippi.............they're idiots..........they elect idiots.........why is it a surprise? Red states elect people on the basis of race, sexual proclivity, and the fact that they don't like intelligence. Where's the surprise?
Lynseypug.... I think you have him mixed up with the governor of New Jersey, Although it does look like they share the same feeding trough.
the Attorney general that is trying to block the release of the inmates is in the red state of this former Govenor, so I guess he's an idiot too. *Shrug* I keep forgetting that only the GOP does stupid stuff, are the only political party that breaks the law. Got to love selective memory. Anyway, The reality is that both parties are filled with humans..go fig... and each parties have screwed up our country doing crap like this nitwit. Those with money have the power and those with power will abuse it...because we let them. You want change? VOTE and maybe one day someone who is a member of the 99% will give us hope for real change.
....a numbnut!
A few of the prisoners worked at the Mayor's residence... Must have caught him 'smokin' or have some dirty pictures or something.
I was watching CNN earlier and they had a DA on and interviewing him and one of those released was a convicted murderer. They are looking for this guy now, but even if they find him there is little they can do to him. He has been pardoned by the Governor, and that pardon cannot be revoked. Barbour can forget about any future run for President ever, can you say Willey Horton? I think one of the news agency went through the paper work and it looks like at least 4-5 of these people are convicted murderers. Unless they have confirmation that they didn't do it and this was the quickest way to get them out then he will have to answer politically if one of these guys ever hurts or kills anyone else.
I am waiting for the Mississippi Supreme Court to rule on the right of a Governor or any Constitutionally mandated State or Federal Officer to issue pardons. This will set legal precedent and by inserting the traditional whereas's and therefore's into any power of pardon it will become a meaningless power. I doubt whether this Governor knew all of the people he pardoned but relied on recommendations from other agencies who placed before him possibly ninety five percent of those names. Where is the hue and cry against those recommenders. I have read that at one time or another several notorious outlaws, murderers, bank robber, train robbers and other neer do wells were pardoned by various State Governors. Not a peep from the Attorney Generals in those cases or anyone else for that matter. The Governor may have erred on the side of emotion in a couple of cases because he was directly, on a daily basis, involved with these men, but at the same time he may have felt that these men had served sufficient time for their crimes using his firsthand judgement. Rarely does any victim or his family feel that the perpetrator gets his just desserts. Our system of jurisprudence is supposed to eliminate revenge as a component of its administration. I say if we question these pardons, we should go back and review every pardon ever granted by any Governor or President. You would have a hard time explaining to me the justification of Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon.
Huh? Haste? I want to know who the bagmen were for these???
I wish the courts would roll back all of these pardons until they're sure no dangerous people will be released.
It won't happen. In the checks and balances, this is a right given to the Executive branch. Short of selling his influence, it is done. It stinks that one moron chose to abuse his power, but it is what it is.
Anyone ever hear "Haley" sing? Might be forming a new Gospel group. Noo bo dyy k n o w s the t r o u b l e I 'v e S E E N ................................ Ummmm, UMMMMMMMM, AHAHAHAHAHAHH....................
Zealots always demand the ultimate right of judgement. They don't need facts, just any idea contrary to their belief will suffice to raise the hair on the back of their necks. Shades of the Inquisition or the Salem witch trials. I have seen, lynchers and church bombers found innocent by some of these same people despite proof positive that they did the deed. Where were they when Emmit Till was murdered, or the three young men buried under a mound in Mississippi. They didn't seem so righteous about these murderers. Many asked the then Governor to pardon these same men once they were eventually caught and convicted. Were they not murderers too? Unless the people of Mississippi crying out that the Governor was wrong, why are they not labeling the people as moronic imbeciles who recommended most of these men for pardon. Double standards I suspect, some of those recommenders are neighbors of the most vociferous detractors of the pardon process.
It's the logical next step of Republican governance: he's forming a gang.
Like a sucker punch to the gut...and this from a "law and order" candidate, yet! I probably might be forgiving if they at least had credible reasons ON PAPER as to why they let these people have pardons, and they couldn't even do that. It wasn't right when Bill Clinton did it, and it certainly ain't right when Barbour did it. He deserves all the raking over the coals he's getting.
I really feel for the victims of the criminals he's released (or planning to)...they have to both relive the agony and injustice, and fear for their safety.
Another soft on crime Republican.
Maybe Obama will have him to the White House to share a beer with anyone he has offended.
It's the south people, the home and where the "God ole Boys" concept was invented. Why in the world was a convicted murderer able to work in the governors mansion?
I think somebody has something on Barbour, like maybe a dead woman or a live boy in bed.
It's really sad, but I had a similar thought as Johan. When I heard the story again about murderers working in the governor's mansion, the thought crossed my mind that somebody heard or found out something that was blackmail worthy, and that maybe pardoning so many at the last minute is to try and disguise the person who has the blackmail info.
I really hope that is just my wild imagination having seen too many dramatic television shows.
Lets hope the worst of them go live in Haley's neighborhood....
Yeah its the south....the only place where corruption occours. Tammany hall was in the south right? or teapot dome? Oh wait better get out my map and see if I can tell New York or Washington from Mississippi.
Bad decisions done in haste? I'd more likely call it bad decisions done out of sheer stupidity! All those guys should be locked up for the remainder of their sentence, and Barbour should be locked up because he presented a definite and real threat to society!!
Unless I miss my guess, this was a Republican Governor freely elected by a majority republican vote. What makes him so detestable now. We can guess why the AG wants to vilify him, he's a Democrat just playing politics. To call him moronic and stupid at this point, implies that he was elected by moronic and stupid people. I would like to know what his position was on abortion, women's free choice, family values and conservative policies when he ran for Governor. If he was wrong about pardons, and moronic and stupid in that process he may have been moronic and stupid about his platform in running for Governor. Maybe his detractors are seeing the light on his other positions as well. I think not, however.
Yeah, Haley Barbour is truly presidential timbre....to bad he backed out...
lol...funny:)
Thank god he did.
Come on! You honestly think he backed out? More like the Republican party quietly told him no way he would get the support needed for the run. Too much baggage, literally and figuratively, for them to haul around the campaign trail.
Are you talking about the three stooges and Laurel and Hardy comedy team currently playing on National TV. All that is missing is the slapstick, pie in the face antics. Another fine mess you've got America in. It is, however, entertaining, and ranks right up there next to Two and a Half Men, with Sheen. Only thing it will be on for only one season. When you think about it all of them have either too many kids or too many exes to fit in one White House. Security would be a problem. One would almost certainly develop Alzthimers before he completed hs term, Remember Nancy, nudging Ronald to keep him awake. Who knows who they would end up pardoning, Haldeman, Mitchell, Liddy perhaps, maybe even a double pardon for Nixon. One wonders what the big wigs in the Republican power brokers were or are thinking with this cast. This is the Office of the Presidency, not for a dogcatcher. Can it be they have written off this election and saving a white knight for 2016. I think that they are going to concentrate on preserving the status quo in Congress so as to render Obama largely ineffective in a second term. This would make any Republican candidate more palatable in 2016. Just my take on the current dog and pony show.
If these are direct quotes from someone claiming to be an associate professor this poor soul is having a hard time stringing a comprehensible sentence together. Is this what graduated from the 6th grade? Most of what he says makes no sense! Don't get me wrong I understand what he trying to say, what the former Governor did is highly suspect, did he know what he was signing. Why was it ok to have convicted murders working under the same roof that his wife and others occupy? There are criminals who committed crimes no where near as serious as murder and they weren't allowed to work at the governor's home?
Oh please, I am not buying it. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Allison,
What quotes are you referring to? A few do have ellipses blocking parts of the sentence that the author chose to cut for the sake of saving space.
These pardons are Disgusting!! You work at the governors mansion and get a pardon.. UNBELIEVABLE!! And I thought this governor had some common sense.. apparently NOT!!
TRIED AND CONVICTED, But get a did at the Governors mansion and you get to walk free.. Ain't the justice system great?
They were probably all relatives.
until info comes out as to the specifics of each case all speculation and opinions should cease, anyway that's part of a governors job is to pardon
where is the death penalty, stop overcrowding,save states money,and eliminate some of the stupid pardons that are done, and the comment about people from Miss, where are you from? it takes all kinds, you showed your intel. with that statement, and I am not from Miss.
KNOWING MISSISSIPPI and the legal system ....Its probably a GOOD thing!!!! hah hah!
Knowing Mississippi and the legal system,,Its a GOOD thing!
He bears responsibility if any of these guys commit another serious crime. I don't know all the facts but the numbers and haste at which this was done is baffling to say the least. I think he should be responsible to hold a press conference and off the top of his head explain why he pardoned each and everyone of these guys. Please do not throw the republican/democrat angle in here though, this is a single mans decision not a political parties philosophy.
Geez! Don't these pols learn anything from each other?
Barbour, call you say "Willie Horton".
I hope he plans on having them all live at his house...
Smells like payoff somewhere.
This looks more and more like a joint Barbour-NRA scheme to accelerate the proliferation of firearms in private hands. Barbour signed into law Mississippi's "Castle Doctrine" bill, which lets people shoot anyone entering their home or car if they feel threatened. With all these violent criminals about to leave prison, what better reason could there be to buy guns now?
Well, not quite anyone entering their home. See http://mississippicriminaldefenseblog.com/2010/04/15/mississippi-castle-doctrine/
Basically says that if someone forces their way into your home or or attempts to commit a felony after entering (say on the pretense of inviting you to next Sunday's services at the Church of We Rape and Pillage) they they are presumed to be there to do you great bodily harm (i.e., maim and or kill) and you have the right to defend yourself with deadly force.
Their castle doctrine is similar to Oklahoma's which was most recently exercised by the 18 year old mother who very legitimately killed one of two men who had attempted to break into her home for over 20 minutes before succeeding in breaking in.
As for being part of a NRA scheme, I don't know. But I would ask the question: why would anyone NOT take every precaution and make every effort to be able to protect themselves, their loved ones and their invited guests from assault within their own home or business?
What is the problem with 200 more convicted felons on the loose with people like Barbour roaming freely among us? This is why Mississippi, along with the rest of the country, needs education so badly.
Politicians do what ever they want. But in this case when he freed convicted felons he should be locked up for life. Then the next politician wont think about it.
Another indictment of the political system in the U.S. that puts such people in office.
(c) 2011
I think any and all pardons (presidential or gubernatorial) should have to be preceded by a call by the executive to the victims and/or their families explaining the logic behind the pardon. If you can't face the victims or their families, then you shouldn't be pardoning the criminal at all.
And yet they still want to keep enforcing silly drug laws and wasting tax dollars on people that often hurt no one, but themselves....Cause it's better to have convicted rapists, muderers and armed robbers roaming them street over your common pot head.