Mike Huckabee's Crazy Pardons

As governor Huckabee helped free through commutations and pardons more prisoners than had been freed by the previous three governors — Bill Clinton, Frank White and Jim Guy Tucker — combined in an 18-year period.

In fact, an Arkansas Leader study indicated that Huckabee helped free more prisoners from 1996 through 2004 than were freed in the six neighboring states — Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas — combined.

Apparently, he had more faith in his own judgment than that of the juries that heard these cases.

Mike Huckabee helped free 12 convicted murderers.

Table of Contents

Wayne DuMond

Convicted Killers "find Jesus", and fool Mike Huckabee

Prosecutors say, evangelical leaders attested that a prisoner had found Jesus and that seemed to influence the governor's thoughts.

Wayne Dumond History

Huckabee has come under criticism for his handling of the case of Wayne DuMond (also spelled Dumond), a convicted rapist who was released during Huckabee's governorship and who subsequently sexually assaulted and murdered a woman in Missouri.

{{cite weburl=http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=154e1aad-fd18-4efd-8d80-b5dab8559419title=Arkansas Times article|accessdate=2007-02-10}}

DuMond's case had attracted national attention in the mid-1990s from critics of President Clinton who felt that Clinton, Arkansas Governor at the time of the rape, had been too harsh with DuMond because DuMond's victim was a distant Clinton relative. Clinton had recused himself from any involvement in the case. Before taking office, Huckabee met with DuMond's wife and privately announced his intention that DuMond be set free, stating his unhappiness with the way Clinton had handled the case.Dunleavy, Steve (June 2, 1996). "How Gov. Clinton Denied an Innocent Man His Freedom". New York Post

DuMond was castrated prior to his trial; he stated that he was attacked by two men in his home (though district prosecutor Gene Raff suggested it was a case of self-mutilation

{{cite book title= Unequal Justice: Wayne Dumond, Bill Clinton, and the Politics of Rape in Arkansas publisher= Prometheus Books date= October 1993 url=http://www.amazon.com/Unequal-Justice-Clinton-Politics-Arkansas/dp/0879758414/ isbn=0879758414 first=Guy |last=Reel}}

and a urologist who'd studied the topic told the Forrest City Times-Herald that self-mutilation isn't that rare among psychologically disturbed sex offenders.

{{cite web url=http://www.bartcop.com/707lyon.htm first=Gene last=Lyons title=Who freed DuMond? publisher=Bartcop.com accessdate=2007-10-27}}

On September 20 1996, Huckabee publicly announced his intention of commuting DuMond's sentence to time served. DuMond had originally been sentenced to life plus twenty years in prison, but in 1992, Tucker reduced the sentence to 39½ years, which gave DuMond the possibility of parole. {{cite news authorlink=AP title= Huckabee's Record On Pardons Questioned:GOP Candidate Granted 1,033 Pardons And Commutations In 10½ Years As Arkansas Gov.url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/10/politics/main3598831.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_3598831 publisher= cbsnewsdate= 2007-12-10accessdate=2007-12-11 }} There was strong opposition to Huckabee's plan from DuMond's rape victims, female Arkansas legislators, and various law enforcement officials, leaving Huckabee in a difficult situation politically.

{{cite weburl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/04/documents-expose-huckabee_n_75362.html title=Documents Expose Huckabee's Role In Serial Rapist's Release publisher=Huffington Postaccessdate=2007-12-04}}

{{cite weburl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/05/exclusive-the-complete-h_n_75373.html title=Exclusive: The Complete Huckabee-Dumond File publisher=Huffington Postaccessdate=2007-12-06}}

On October 31 1996, Huckabee met privately with the parole board to talk about the DuMond case. On January 16 1997, DuMond was granted parole, just five months after he had been rejected. Huckabee released a statement saying, "I concur with the board’s action and hope the lives of all those involved can move forward. The action of the board accomplishes what I sought to do in considering an earlier request for commutation ...In light of the action of the board, my original intent to commute the sentence to time served is no longer relevant." The parole was granted on the condition that DuMond leave the state. He moved to Smithville, Missouri in 1999 and was later convicted there of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman that lived near his home.

DuMond was also a suspect in the murder of a pregnant woman in Platte County, Missouri. DuMond died in prison in 2005.

http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2005/09/convicted_murde.html

Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley has argued that Huckabee granted too many clemencies.

{{cite news |title=Arkansas clemencies outpace other states url= http://www.arkansasleader.com/frontstories/st_08_11_04/huckabee8.html publisher= Leader Newspapers date=2004-08-11 |accessdate=2007-12-06 }}

In 2005, The Arkansas Times reported on the role that Huckabee played in the parole board's decision. Web special: Dumond case revisited - A reminder of Huckabee's role in his freedom Arkansas Times, September 1, 2005 When questioned about the case during his presidential campaign in 2007, Huckabee has denied pressuring any parole board members to release DuMond. Huckabee: Politicization of rape victims' deaths 'heartbreaking' CNN.com, December 6, 2007 Huckabee has also discussed the incident in his book From Hope to Higher Ground.