Maurice Clemmons, the man suspected in the killing of four police officers in Washington state, was once a resident of the Arkansas penal system. Several times, in fact. His sentence (of 95 years) was commuted by then-Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee thus allowing him to leave the penitentiary long before his 95 years were up.
Mr. Clemmons was hardly reformed. In Washington state he as recently arrested for third-degree assault of a police officer and second-degree rape of a child. For an unknown reason, he was able to post bail in Washington despite a whopping eight felony charges pending against him.
The Arkansas Times has extensive coverage of the matter along with a round-up of reporting from several national publications.
Mr. Huckabee issued this statement on the matter. Clemency and pardons dogged his 2008 presidential campaign. As Arkie blogger Jason Tolbert informed us, Mr. Huckabee’s unsure whether he’ll make another run in 2012. If it turns out that Mr. Clemmons is responsible for these killings, it’s going to be a tough political road ahead.
This is a polite way of saying that Mr. Huckabee (along with Washington governor Chris Gregoire) is going to have a lot of questions to answer in the coming days.
UPDATE: The New York Times is reporting that Mr. Clemmons has been shot by police and may have been killed. He’s been cornered in a Seattle home.
UPDATE II: Now he’s apparently escaped the home.
UPDATE III: The Arkansas Times digs into the past conviction record of Mr. Clemmons in Arkansas. In summary: five sentences, some concurrent, others consecutive, totaling 108 years.
UPDATE IV: The Seattle Times reviews parole documents that indicate Mr. Clemmons stated he had changed while he was in prison.
UPDATE V: Mr. Huckabee will appear on The O’Reilly Factor tonight.
UPDATE VII: The Daily Kos opens up a forum on the topic.
UPDATE VIII: According to The New York Times, Mr. Clemmons wasn’t in the house and is now “nowhere to be found.”
Wow Huckabee, you are one dumb son of a bitch…
I think it’s absolutely absurd that a man can be grated clemency with such a violent legal record. If this jerk was still serving his 95 year sentence, none of this would have happened. What the hell was Huckabee thinking? Do yourself a favor Huckabee, get the hell out of Washington & tell these families what you will do for them now. What a horrible tragedy! My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family’s and friends of the fallen officers. May you all rest in peace.
Mr. Huckabee why in the world would you commute a man’s prison sentence of 95 years and let a man like that out? Sir if you had not pardoned him this horrible crime would not have happened this is outrageous to say the least I’m sure I don’t know all the ins and outs of why you commuted his sentence but this sir is a tragedy beyond words. If I were you sir I would resign my job at Fox for no good can come of it. I am shocked that this kind of thing should happen.
That is my opinion.
The one F’n Republican that believes criminals can be rehabilitated, and prison isn’t for punishment.
I say we execute every current “visitor” in prison that has a sentence longer than 20 years. No paroles, no re-dos on trials. Fry the bastards.
This is actually good news. Huckabee ruined it for Romney in the republican race and he won’t have that chance again. Romney 2012
Huckabee needs to man up and apologize to the widows and kids of these officers for turning this animal loose on them.
The facts are, four human beings, who were working to keep their community safe, were gunned down by an evil man.
This incident is just another example that there is a huge decrease in the human concious.
What does it take for our courts to learn.
Huckabee has blood on his hands!
Maybe Mr Huckabee can make a huge Donation to the Lakewood officers guild to support the families. Along with apologies to everyone whos has been involved in this investigation.He will be on FOX tonite on Bill O’Reilly this should be good!!!
what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? we don’t know for sure that it was clemmons. I just read this morning were the boy who said michael jackson molested him recanted. See how the public and the press brought mj to his demise because we all thought he was guilty. we turned him into a freak!!!. Because let’s face it, drama sell! out of all fairness to the governor, let’s see what he has to say on the factor. plus don’t you think the parole board had a hand in this as well? I can see why the main stream media would want to jump on this because he is the front runner in 2012 and still is!
Mr. Huckabee,
My father is a fallen law enforcement officer and it perplexes me that you would have let this monster out of prison. What kind of rehabilitation could help a child sex molester? I pray the families of these fallen officers have a better time trying to live a life with out the person that means almost everything in their life. My brother became an alcoholic and once your father/mother is gone, they are gone for good.
I’m sure you feel safe in the neighborhood you live in and maybe that’s why you think it was fine to let him out.
What say you to those families who’s lives will be changed for the worse forever? I’m sorry just isn’t enough.
James A. Trandel Sr.
people please! murderers don’t even get 95 years! If mike would have given him 95 years you would have said he was too harsh. He was 17 for crying out loud! if he served his time then let out you say he didn’t serve enough. what gives? can we not forget that clemmons pulled the trigger. NOT HUCKABEE. When will society make each individual responsible for their own actions!?! If Clemmons had been given the death penalty you people would have been freakin out. either way huckabee is caught in a crack! you can’t have it both ways!
why isn’t anyone saying anything about the two judges in washington that let him go with 8 felony charges including rape of a child on $15,000.00 bond alittle over a week ago. makes you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! why don’t you get your facts straight before you comdemn huckabee. all he did was reduce a teenager’s sentence to 46 years instead of 108. I’m not sure i see how that makes him guilty.
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