Mike Huckabee Commuted Washington Murder Suspect’s Prison Sentence
[Guest post by DRJ]
The suspect in this morning’s murder of 4 Washington State police officers had his prison sentence commuted by Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee:
“Maurice Clemmons, the 37-year-old Tacoma man being sought for questioning in the killing this morning of four Lakewood police officers, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.
Nine years ago, then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee granted clemency to Clemmons, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protests of prosecutors.
“This is the day I’ve been dreading for a long time,” Larry Jegley, prosecuting attorney for Arkansas’ Pulaski County said tonight when informed that Clemmons was being sought for questioning in connection with the killings.”
I think you can throw out those “Huckabee 2012” bumper stickers. The Washington officials have some explaining to do, too.
— DRJ
Huckabee also pardoned a rapist who went on to murder at least one woman, if not two.
http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=154e1aad-fd18-4efd-8d80-b5dab8559419
doug (49dd6f) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:25 pmWhy are so many of us, of both parties, willing to vote for narcissists that believe that their personal charisma gives them the duty to override the judgement of the legal system?
Of course, part of the reason they get away with it is that the public is fed a steady diet of the failings of American law, so demagogues like Huckabee and Obama find it easy to garner media acclaim by sticking up for criminals instead of victims.
sherlock (e1e91e) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:25 pmWhy are so many of us, of both parties, willing to vote for narcissists that believe that their personal charisma gives them the wisdom to override the judgement of the legal system?
Of course, part of the reason they get away with it is that the public is fed a steady diet of the failings of American law, so demagogues like Huckabee and Obama find it easy to garner media acclaim by sticking up for criminals instead of victims.
sherlock (e1e91e) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:26 pmPut a fork in Huckabee and so much for NK’s wild theory.
Stan Switek (eb6164) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:27 pmI guess folks weren’t listening last year when Arkansas folks were saying that Huckabee was no conservative.
Fundamentalist Christian, yes. But also a fiscal liberal. Now, it seems, a bleeding heart liberal.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:36 pmThis suspect was on BAIL for raping a CHILD.
WTF. How did he keep getting these breaks? He’s a repeat offender of serious crimes.
Now, I still think there’s a lot more to this crime than we know. He’s only a suspect, first of all, though even if he didn’t kill these cops, he’s out on bail, apparently a fugitive, for raping a child.
Why did such a person kill four cops? Has anyone ever heard of someone gunning down a bunch of cops for no reason? I’m sure it has happened, but it just seems less likely than shooting them for a specific reason, such as a major case. Were these cops related to this man’s prosecution for child rape (similar to NK’s not all that wild guess)?
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:38 pmI’m from Chicago where we seldom kill without potential profit and political protection. I can be excused for not being in touch with Left Coast weirdness. (Although a felon with a long criminal history and mental health problems would make a pretty good fall guy. Along with a few words whispered in detectives’ ears and few thousand slipped into their pockets, he could even be made to confess.)
nk (df76d4) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:40 pmSo why do they suspect THIS individual? The links are something that has yet to be mentioned in the reports I’ve seen.
Do they have photo IDs or are they just rounding up the usual suspects?
Whitehall (78f115) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:45 pmAfter Clinton, I trust politicians from Arkansas even less than I trust most politicians. Mike Huckabee is an evil snake oil salesman.
daleyrocks (718861) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:46 pmI’ve long known that Huckabee was ideologically way too much of a squish to be trusted, certainly when his opinion on the death penalty was not much less liberal than — if not, in fact, identical to — that of a Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry or any garden-variety left-leaning Democrat.
When a politician fails the basic, fundamental test of understanding just how actually humane and decent the death penalty is — certainly when it comes to the way it impacts people like the new victims of the killer in Washington state — I have no confidence in his or her judgment from that point onward.
Mark (411533) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:48 pmIt was racist to talk about Horton, but since Fuckabee is an “R”, this is okay.
JD (2fd53e) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:51 pmIf he wasn’t “Willie Horton-ed” before, he sure as hell is now.
Done.
Icy Texan (fc6afa) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:58 pmOops. I used a naughty word. It is justified though.
JD (2fd53e) — 11/29/2009 @ 8:59 pmNever liked Huckabee, hopefully this ruins his 2012 hopes. Wondering if the MSM will pick up on this…
TheAudacity (2fd5ad) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:00 pmJD, you racist!
Icy Texan (fc6afa) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:12 pmTalk about a desperate politican. Huckabee has already posted a statment on this at his website:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?fa=News.View&News_id=a9c58e43-9675-4da0-9567-674110678ef8&Label_id=&Year=&Month=
Oddly, he takes absolutely no blame for anything—instead it is the “criminal justice system” which has failed. Curious that he couldn’t elaborate on his statment that this murderous felon “was recommended and received a commutation of his original (95 YEARS) sentence”—–hey Mike, exactly who was the one who did that? Oh, it was you…….
doug (49dd6f) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:16 pmThey have surveillance video from the coffee shop.
chas (9d4aa2) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:17 pmdoug, that was a stunning comment he made at his site – it was as if he had zero connection with this in any way, shape or form. Guess he’s trying to make sure he’ll be able to sleep tonight. Good luck with that.
Dana (e9ba20) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:19 pmDana, Doug, Huckabee claims this man was commuted in 1990, and then paroled later. Huckabee wasn’t governor until 1996 (he was Lt gov from 93-95).
Either his staff have screwed up, or he is saying, in way too soft a tone, that someone else commuted his sentence. Of course, Bill Clinton was governor in 1990. Clinton was governor from 1979 to 1992, with a short break in the early 80s.
Takes guts to point the finger at Bill Clinton, which is exactly what it looks like Huckabee did. Though this isn’t a matter for opinions.
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:25 pmIf I was a governor I would never consider commuting the sentence of any convicted felon, unless: A) the person was of exremeley advanced age or infirmity; or, B) there was sufficient (like DNA-level) evidence for reasonable doubt regarding the conviction. Otherwise, the CRIMINAL stays locked up.
Icy Texan (fc6afa) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:29 pmHuckabee is lying. 1990 was when Clemmons was sent to prison. 2001 is when he was released.
nk (df76d4) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:31 pmWow! This is definitely one of those cases where no statement at all is better than the one he made. Huckabee is gonna get raked over the coals for that bit of idiocy.
jimboster (fe0b27) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:31 pmnk, it’s me who made the mistake, not Huckabee.
He said the sentence ‘from’ 1990. I apologize for the error.
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:33 pmDustin,
Michelle Malkin has more on the Huckabee part of the timeline.
DRJ (dee47d) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:33 pmA scandalous event involving bad judgement ultimately prevented Teddy Kennedy from becoming president. His alleged role in this tragedy, which can also be chalked up to poor judgement, has taken Huck out of the presidential picture for good now, as well.
Still, there is plenty of blame to go around. The Arkansas commutation was more than five years ago and the “suspect” has been in serious trouble and in and out of jail in Washington State, having just recently been granted bail. Several media reports have pegged the suspect as seriously bonkers and as having recently been evaluated by a psychologist on judge’s orders. So the Washington State judicial system has blood on its hands, too, that he was out on the streets.
elissa (5f95c4) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:44 pmThanks, DRJ. I don’t read Michelle’s blog enough.. she’s exhaustively covered Huckabee’s pattern.
You know, while I misread his excuse, it’s mainly because of the passive way he notes that a sentence was commuted. That’s just something that happened? As if commuting a sentence is automatic. And Michelle shows that this is how Huckabee reacted to a similar incident.
The very least he could do is take responsibility. If he said ‘I was wrong to commute this sentence. It was a tough call, and that’s why being a governor is a tough job.’ At least he would look like a human being. His statement shows such disrespect to what has happened. He was the executive who overrode the will of the judicial system. Who does he think he is?
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:47 pmLike others, I was aware that Huckabee did NOT govern as a conservative in Arkansas. He said today on Fox News Sunday that he is happy with his gig at Fox on Saturday night and had no plans to run for president.
Good. That takes care of that.
Mike K (2cf494) — 11/29/2009 @ 9:58 pmSort of “it wasn’t my job.” Hooey!
I’m sure many of the people who let Hasan off the hook have similar rationalizations.
Patricia (b05e7f) — 11/29/2009 @ 10:14 pmWhat in the hell is Huckabee even releasing a statement for, anyway? The man hasn’t been caught, the victims are still fresh. The families probably are only approaching realizing what happened.
And Huckabee obviously hired people to carefully write an explanation for how this happened. It blames the parole board, it blames the prosecutors, and for some reason, it is extremely obscure about the commuting. Why is Huckabee’s spin that urgent?
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/29/2009 @ 10:45 pmDustin, With respect to his “statement” I imagine Huck’s hustling trying to save his new TV show. If the shooter is caught and this all proves to be true Fox may feel Huck’s too risky an issue for them and for the audience.
elissa (5f95c4) — 11/29/2009 @ 11:00 pmHuckabee bad. Freedom good.
happyfeet (0003d3) — 11/29/2009 @ 11:25 pmWasn’t there a poll several weeks ago that showed Huckabee one of the leading potential candidates, if not the top one, among registered Republicans for 2012? When I saw that survey I was reminded all over again just how deluded, if not idiotic, various people can be — regardless of their party affiliation or politics — when they can’t figure out what makes a person tick, including that person’s ideological orientation. I’m looking at people like you, Chuck Norris.
When a politician is anti-capital punishment, I tend to see him or her as being potentially very ruthless, unreliable and destructive. Therefore, it’s always a laugh when such a person believes his anti-death-penalty opinion makes him just the opposite of those things.
Mark (411533) — 11/29/2009 @ 11:26 pmWhat is his problem?
Muslim fundamentalists have a great deal of difficult with the concept of showing mercy to those who would kill us.
If you were to pick a religion, would you pick a religion whose adherents are willing to shed other people’s blood to avenge an insult of one of its holy prophets, or a religion whose adherents appease rapists or murderers?
Secret Squirrel (6a1582) — 11/29/2009 @ 11:50 pmIt’s a good thing we live in California not Arkansas. Thank God our state would never, ever think of letting waves of violent felons loose upon the citizenry. Oh, wait…
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 11/30/2009 @ 12:02 am[…] clemency by Huckabee now sought in Washington Police ambush Patterico’s Pontifications: Mike Huckabee Commuted Washington Murder Suspect’s Prison Sentence Michelle Malkin: Violent felon granted clemency by Huckabee now sought in Lakewood, WA police […]
Four Police Officers Murdered, Ambushed in Seattle Coffee Shop (video) « Frugal Café Blog Zone (a66042) — 11/30/2009 @ 1:07 amAccording to Ms Malkin, SWAT has surrounded (the suspect) Clemens’s home. Standoff.
She also posted pictures of the dead police officers. It’s been a bad few weeks when it comes to shootings. Lots of heroes murdered.
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/30/2009 @ 2:28 amMike Huckabee, a/k/a the Dope from Hope, is a pro-life tax and spend liberal.
DavidL (02e14f) — 11/30/2009 @ 3:40 amBut, but, but wait! We’re only supposed to make Willie Horton complaints against Democrats, right?
The sarcastic Dana (3e4784) — 11/30/2009 @ 4:06 amDana, I’ve never heard anyone suggest that. I’d be pretty mad if I did. Thank goodness, the GOP has virtually no such loyalty to its own.
Huckabee was criticized harshly for this behavior many years ago, by the GOP and the democrats. His abuses are going to wind up stripping the governor of a vital power. Sometimes, the pardon is a critical tool to right wrongs, but we just can’t trust our politicians with that kind of power.
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/30/2009 @ 4:20 amI realize you’re being sarcastic… I guess I don’t understand how, though, due to the banal nature of condemning this guy. I think I just don’t have any perspective on this… it’s completely impossible for me to understand where Huckabee was coming from letting this man go.
He’s vicious to the core.
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/30/2009 @ 4:23 amThank you for the info.
Prior to this, I was going to say this case calls for an explicit timeline and narrative of all of the contacts he’s had with the legal system, and rigorous examination of who made what errors and when, “if” any were made.
We do allow for probation, we do allow for governor’s and the president to commute sentences, so we must think it is sometimes appropriate. I will assume that “on occasion” a mistake will be made. But when the mistakes are obvious, that’s another issue.
The linked article surely suggests he was a disturbed person who was not only violent but “out of touch” with reality. Whether he did it and on his own, or was influenced and essentially “used” by someone else for a “logical” (though evil) purpose, we shall see.
MD in Philly (227f9c) — 11/30/2009 @ 5:54 amMight I suggest that if you’ve never watched the Huckabee show on Fox, you’ve missed your last chance. Even if it turns out that the guy he released wasn’t the murderer, Mr Huckabee’s responsibility-ducking statement will finish him for conservatives.
The Dana who doesn't watch much TV (3e4784) — 11/30/2009 @ 6:10 ami’d be very curious to hear what a huckabee supporter thinks on the subject.
as for his TV show, look, Huck has made it as far as he has so far by being a uniquely likeable guy on TV. this probably won’t change that, so i doubt this ends his show. but i think he should take some responsibility here.
A.W. (e7d72e) — 11/30/2009 @ 6:37 amSo far, the stories suggest that although Clemmons was trash, he was not a street person. He had money and political support throughout, most likely from his family but maybe from his personal associations as well.
I am reminded of the George Ryan story in a lot of ways.
nk (df76d4) — 11/30/2009 @ 6:59 amAs a resident of Pierce County, WA, where the shootings occurred, I think Huckabee is hardly the only one to blame, although the media will jump on him because he is Republican and a potential presidential candidate. He was released in Pierce County in May 2009 where he was in jail on charges of assaulting a police officer, and was released on minimal bail again just 6 days ago where he was in jail on charges of child rape. Why are we not hearing about who made the decision to release this lifelong criminal who was on his 3rd strike?
Vatar (3899d0) — 11/30/2009 @ 7:09 amWhy are we not hearing about who made the decision to release this lifelong criminal who was on his 3rd strike?
The why the decision was made is more fruitful, I think. Which goes to who is this guy’s lifeline? And what money and influence, from where, was being used on his behalf.
nk (df76d4) — 11/30/2009 @ 7:38 amYeah, I thought of that immediately as well.
i doubt this ends his show. but i think he should take some responsibility here.
I seriously doubt that Fox will allow his show to go on after that incredibly feckless PR statement. Any guest from now on can just ask him about it, whenever they’re challenged – speaks to the man’s character, of which he apparently has none.
But hey, he can always become the latest spokesperson for Weight Watchers or Nutrisystems.
Dmac (a964d5) — 11/30/2009 @ 8:01 amHe had money and political support throughout, most likely from his family but maybe from his personal associations as well nk
So you’re thinking, not only did somebody post his bail recently, but someone of ability and influence has helped him get the advantage of soft treatment all along the way??? Interesting.
MD in Philly (227f9c) — 11/30/2009 @ 8:20 am…Thank goodness, the GOP has virtually no such loyalty to its own…
Hope you never decide to run under the GOP banner anytime soon, Dustin. That statement has Bad Karma written all over it.
As far as Huckabee’s pardoning of this animal goes, can the media blowback be but another example of Sarah Palin’s Revenge?
Brad S (9f6740) — 11/30/2009 @ 9:12 amComment by The sarcastic Dana — 11/30/2009 @ 4:06 am
Careful now, Dana. You may soon start suggesting that the fastest-growing rates of crime are now appearing in rural white communities in the Great Plains (think Meth, folks). Can’t have that, can we?
Brad S (9f6740) — 11/30/2009 @ 9:15 amComment by nk — 11/30/2009 @ 7:38 am
Perhaps he’s a Community Organizer for ACORN?
Unprovoked cop shootings….
AD - RtR/OS! (cc9803) — 11/30/2009 @ 9:42 amKind of reminds me of the cops killed recently in Oakland by an ex-con.
I think the criminal justice system did just fine. He was charged and convicted with serious offenses. Where the system went wrong was where Huckabee commuted this criminal’s sentence, over the objection of the prosecutor and victims and families. When will the politicians understand that some people just deserve to be behind bars for their crimes?
Rochf (ae9c58) — 11/30/2009 @ 12:42 pmBut…But….He’s an ordained Minister!
AD - RtR/OS! (cc9803) — 11/30/2009 @ 12:45 pmHope you never decide to run under the GOP banner anytime soon, Dustin. That statement has Bad Karma written all over it.
As far as Huckabee’s pardoning of this animal goes, can the media blowback be but another example of Sarah Palin’s Revenge?
Comment by Brad S
Brad, GOP loyalty exists, just not that kind. Is my comment really that hard for you to understand?
What does this have to do with Sarah? Am I totally retarded at detecting sarcasm? Actually, I’ll tell you what this has to do with Sarah Palin… Sarah Palin’s supporters are sick and tired of the beltway republicans who want to show loyalty to corrupt politicians like Huckabee (yes, he was quite corrupt, and yes, commuting these criminals is part of that). They like Palin partly, perhaps even largely, because she will throw the GOP’s bums out too. The GOP has very little of the wrong headed type of loyalty.
Dustin (cf255c) — 11/30/2009 @ 12:55 pmWhen will the politicians understand that some people just deserve to be behind bars for their crimes?
They’ll keep doing it until the value of their preening moralism finally betrays the naked ambition behind much of the pardons. Ryan did it purely for the purpose of saving his hide from the prosecutors (didn’t work), while Huckabee used it to further his aspirations for higher office.
Dmac (a964d5) — 11/30/2009 @ 1:02 pmClemmons spent lots of time in prison. Prisons are prime recruiting grounds for jihadis and Clemmons could have been exposed to radical Islam there. He might also just be the career criminal most news outlets now report. A dirt bag who “snapped” and went on a killing spree surprisingly similar to what jihadi’s have done. Maybe Clemmons is a copy cat, maybe he’s a mad dog, at this point we don’t know.
So, don’t jump to conclusions, I’m not claiming Clemmons is a Muslim terrorist: I’m raising a possibility which should remain open, at least till we have reason to conclude otherwise.
Excessive sensitivity about even the possibility for Major Hasan’s growing jihadi motivations, resulted in his bloodthirsty rampage at Fort Hood. Systemic refusal to acknowledge a ticking time-bomb because it wasn’t politically correct is what allowed that bomb to kill out soldiers.
The US Army conspired to cover-up Major Hasan’s Islamic motivation. What makes anyone sure the Police and the media in Washington wouldn’t do the same thing for Clemmons for the very same reasons?
After all, the only way our keepers can ensure we don’t jump to conclusions is by making sure we don’t get explosive information of the sort which might reveal inconvenient truths.
ropelight (57a4b7) — 11/30/2009 @ 1:07 pmI read somewhere yesterday that as a convicted felon with a commuted sentence the guy was still on parole and should have been sent back TO Arkansas to prison the VERY first time he got into trouble in Wash State. Instead, he was in and out of prison there several times for serious crimes and just recently allowed out on bail again. This is a scary and major F-up of our justice system going well beyond the stupid commutation. And much harder to explain/justify today in the age of computers that it might have bee thirty or 40 years ago.
elissa (f9f719) — 11/30/2009 @ 1:28 pm[…] Is Maurice Clemmons Huckabee’s “Willie Horton”? Yes — In More Ways Than One and Mike Huckabee Commuted Washington Murder Suspect’s Prison Sentence Michelle Malkin: Seattle Police Department on trail of Maurice Clemmons; wife, car also sought; […]
It’s Over: Cop Killer Clemmons Fatally Shot by WA Police, Huckabee Still Blamed for His Role (video) « Frugal Café Blog Zone (a66042) — 12/1/2009 @ 6:52 amAny one still monitoring this thread? The newer thread on this topic has been hijacked by Myron arguing with the racist in his head.
Does anyone have any details on the criminal charges in Washington that Clemens was out on bail for?
I just caught part of a FOX report on it. If what they reported is accurate (and if I understood what they were saying) it is shocking that he was out on 150,000 for bail.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:14 amFram today’s WSJ-Online Morning Brief:
“…He was recently arrested and charged in Pierce County on suspicion of third-degree assault on a police officer and second-degree rape of a child. He posted bail and was released Nov. 24…”
AD - RtR/OS! (66f601) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:22 amhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB125966812323771121.html?mod=djemTMB
AD – The report I am referencing had details about exactly what went on during the attack that led to the rape charges. If I got the details straight then that was a horrendous case of under-charging. Leting him out on ANY bail would have been egregious.
I don’t want to report what I heard here in case I misheard.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:26 amHave Blue, child rape bail? You’re right, that’s insane. He had warrants, had a violent record, and it was obvious he wasn’t going to show up to trial.
The Washington judge indeed killed 4 cops with his decision to let this man run free. And you already know this, I bet, but he only had to pony up $15,000 to be released.
Dustin (cf255c) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:26 amThe second degree makes it sound like it was a consensual (albeit statutory) situation. But the report indicated that he, with a weapon, ordered several people, at least two of them girls ages tweleve and thirteen, into a room and then to remove their clothing. He then attempted to rape the thirteen year old who managed to escape. He then raped the twelve year old.
And that description of the events actually leaves out the lurid details.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:33 amThird-degree assault on a police-officer….
Sounds like he brushed aside the officers hands when they attempted to put the cuffs on.
It is now up to the people of Washington State to descipline this jurist for this horrendous lapse of judgement on his/her part.
AD - RtR/OS! (66f601) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:33 amThere is no way with this guy’s past record that he should have been let out….talk about a threat to the community.
Well, now that he’s dead, the blood-letting can begin.
Have Blue, I’m sickened to hear any details about the rape(s). And people were helping this animal. He even bragged that he was going to kill cops, and no want warned anyone.
And there are plenty of people out there helping other monsters. Most of the sexual abuse I have learned about involved someone helping the abusers.
Dustin (cf255c) — 12/1/2009 @ 10:51 am