Ex-Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s Pardons Cause Families to Fear Revenge

[Straw Man]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/01/ex-mississippi-gov-haley-barbours-pardons-cause-families-to-fear-revenge/

They are reeling in Mississippi and the pardon no one can forgive is David Gatlin.

Gatlin shot his wife dead with their son in her arms and walked out of jail a free man last week, the beneficiary of one of about 200 pardons or early releases granted by former Gov. Haley Barbour during his last days in office.

Gatlin was freed before the courts could step in and halt the release, and tonight no one knows where he is.

His wife’s sister worried he’ll come back to the family to finish the deed. She said Barbour is a coward for freeing these men and then disappearing.

It’s now clear that Gatlin and three other convicted murderers were given a get- out-of-jail free card because they worked in the governor’s kitchen and washed his cars.

Lawmakers are now looking for ways to limit the power of the pardon and, at the same time, block those four pardons and nearly 200 others.

“The public doesn’t get it. I don’t get it either,” said attorney Mark Mayfield. “Haley has done a lot of great things, but I’m afraid that in the large measure this will tarnish his image as he goes forward.”

Barbour, an outspoken tough-on-crime crusader, never has been afraid to speak his mind — until now.

ABC News went looking for the former governor at his new law firm, trying to get an answer for the frightened families crying for a reasonable explanation. Instead we were shown the door.

In a brief written statement Wednesday night, Barbour said “about 90 percent of these individuals were no longer in custody, and a majority of them had been out for years.”

But that was not the case for the murderers who worked at the governor’s mansion. They had been sentenced to life.

[Soul Crusher]

Very odd and bizarre.   Something is definately wrong here.   

[Straw Man]

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-01-12/justice/justice_mississippi-pardons_1_pardons-and-clemencies-inmates-mississippi-department?_s=PM:JUSTICE
Attorney general: Mississippi may order nationwide manhunt

Mississippi's attorney general said Thursday that the state may have to issue a nationwide manhunt after four pardoned murderers left jail and "hit the road running.""We'll catch 'em. It's just a matter of time," Attorney General Jim Hood told CNN.

The four were among nearly 200 convicted criminals to whom Gov. Haley Barbour granted clemency or a pardon in a final act before leaving office this week.

The governor's actions have set off a legal firestorm in Mississippi.

A judge issued a temporary injunction Wednesday forbidding the release of any more prisoners. And the process of releasing 21 other inmates has been halted, said Hood, who believes the former governor put people at risk and sought the court order.

[Straw Man]

Very odd and bizarre.   Something is definately wrong here.   

it's seems insane that Barbour would release 4 convicted murders who were serving life sentences, especially given that Barbour was so concerned about the sanctity of life that he was in favor of a personhood ammendment

[Soul Crusher]

it's seems insane that Barbour would release 4 convicted murders who were serving life sentences, especially given that Barbour was so concerned about the sanctity of life that he was in favor of a personhood ammendment

I agree - this seems totally nuts.   Maybe his family was threatened?   

[Straw Man]

I agree - this seems totally nuts.   Maybe his family was threatened?   

or maybe since these guys worked at the governors mansion maybe they had some dirt of Boss Hogg

either that or Barbour is just batshit crazy

I don't see how anyone in their right mind could do such a thing

[Soul Crusher]

or maybe since these guys worked at the governors mansion maybe they had some dirt of Boss Hogg

either that or Barbour is just batshit crazy

I don't see how anyone in their right mind could do such a thing

Something is definately wierd here.   persnally - I think his family was threatened. 

[Straw Man]

Something is definately wierd here.   persnally - I think his family was threatened. 

how in the world are you jumping to that conclusion?

[240 is Back]

or maybe since these guys worked at the governors mansion maybe they had some dirt of Boss Hogg

that's the ONLY thing that made sense here.

They knew about the daily BJs he was getting from some hottie working on staff or something.  They told him "We're going public unless..."

Wouldn't surprise me.  Threats of violence, no, that doesn't make sense.  But blackmail?  Maybe.


Most likely, he's probably just soft on them, swallowed their bullshit lines, and just said fck it, on his last day in office.  Senseless.

[Soul Crusher]

how in the world are you jumping to that conclusion?

Because the draconian nature of his actions had to come in response to an equal threat or something of that nature.   

[240 is Back]

Because the draconian nature of his actions had to come in response to an equal threat or something of that nature.   

we all love a good CT.  But it was probably just him getting suckered by a sob story by someone who had become his friend.

[Straw Man]

I think the likely answer is that Barbour is a fucking idiot

more from tjhe CNN article linked above

The pardons include the four convicted murderers and a convicted armed robber who were released Sunday. The five now must contact prison officials on a daily basis as their fate is adjudicated, but their whereabouts are unknown, Hood said.

A court hearing on the matter will be held January 23.

Hood said the state cannot issue an arrest warrant for the five who were released because they have not committed a crime.

"We have not found any law that will support that," Hood told CNN. "They have a legal document saying they are free to go.

"There are some tough legal issues we are trying to address," he said. "This is such a unique problem that no law has ever had to address yet. We're having to make new law here."

Hood said he did not know Barbour's reasons for the pardons and clemencies, but said he owed the public an explanation.

He gave the governor a tongue-lashing, comparing him to the unethical, greedy commissioner in the 1980s television series "The Dukes of Hazzard."

"He's tried to rule the state like Boss Hogg and he didn't think the law applied to him," Hood told CNN Wednesday.

Hood said Barbour violated the state's constitution because the pardon requests for many inmates were not published 30 days before they were granted, as required.

Mississippi is one of the few states that requires advance notice.

"This isn't a partisan issue," according to Hood, who is a Democrat. "Either you followed the constitution or you didn't."

Barbour is a conservative Republican.

What's behind the pardon battle?

Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green issued the injunction Wednesday, saying it appeared some pardons, including those for four murderers, did not meet the 30-day requirement. Any inmates released in the future must meet the standard, Green ruled.

[Straw Man]

Because the draconian nature of his actions had to come in response to an equal threat or something of that nature.   

dude

 

[Soul Crusher]

we all love a good CT.  But it was probably just him getting suckered by a sob story by someone who had become his friend.

Yes, but it wasnt only one criminal, it was many.   This is not funny at all.  


If he were threatened with harm to him or his family, he needs to come clean as these murderers are now on the loose.    

[Straw Man]

Yes, but it wasnt only one criminal, it was many.   This is not funny at all.  


If he were threatened with harm to him or his family, he needs to come clean as these murderers are now on the loose.    

I'll bet you a dollar there is no reason for this other than Barbour being an idiot

[Soul Crusher]

dude

 

no one does this unless prompted by something, whether it be money or threats.   

[Soul Crusher]

I'll bet you a dollar there is no reason for this other than Barbour being an idiot

Whatever it is, he needs to be questioned.   it would be one thing if the lawyers for these inamtes presented evidence if their innocence, but unilateraly with no explanation, etc?    GMAFB. 

Something stinks here big time.     

[Straw Man]

no one does this unless prompted by something, whether it be money or threats.   

how the heck you can jump to that conclusion

you have zero evidence except your own preconceived notion

He was going out office due to term limits and He pardoned 200 people and didn't give the proper advance notice

My guess is that he's just an idiot who was oblivious to the consequences of his actions..... or was aware of them and just didn't give a shit

[Skip8282]

I don't see how they're gonna block these pardons.  It's within his rights, as batshit crazy as it is, and when I read their constitution on pardons, I took it to mean that the public notice only applied in cases of treason.

I think it's gonna get messy.

[240 is Back]

I don't see how they're gonna block these pardons.  It's within his rights, as batshit crazy as it is, and when I read their constitution on pardons, I took it to mean that the public notice only applied in cases of treason.

I think it's gonna get messy.

yeah, that judge can make a name for himself by stopping them to make sure all is good with them...

but there's no real legal challenge, outside of the 30 day timing thing.

the governor can issue one at any time for anyone, right?  He violatd some state rule, but outside of a powerless reprimand on a man that's out of office, I'm not so sure they'll be back behind bars.

[Straw Man]

I don't see how they're gonna block these pardons.  It's within his rights, as batshit crazy as it is, and when I read their constitution on pardons, I took it to mean that the public notice only applied in cases of treason.

I think it's gonna get messy.

even messier if any of these guys kill again

[Shockwave]

jesus, the corruption at all levels of government... Its like they just dont give a damn if we find out anymore.

[Soul Crusher]

how the heck you can jump to that conclusion

you have zero evidence except your own preconceived notion

He was going out office due to term limits and He pardoned 200 people and didn't give the proper advance notice

My guess is that he's just an idiot who was oblivious to the consequences of his actions..... or was aware of them and just didn't give a shit

Well how did these names and cases come to his desk? 

[Straw Man]

Something is definately wierd here.   persnally - I think his family was threatened. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ex-mississippi-gov-haley-barbour-says-hes-very-comfortable-with-end-of-term-pardons/2012/01/13/gIQACv6twP_story.html

[Dos Equis]

Not nearly as bad as some of the headlines made it out to be:

"Let's get the facts straight. Of the 215 who received clemency, 189 were not let out of jail. They were already out of jail," Barbour told the AP

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/13/barbour-defends-controversial-pardons-as-based-on-christian-belief-in/#ixzz1jSaZ8rIi