The FBI is reportedly inquiring about the multiple pardons former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) issued right before he left office.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1281570
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1281570
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Can’t read the Journal’s reporting, it’s behind a paywall!
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The real question is, can a governor or president actually break any laws by pardoning someone? I don’t think it would be easy to prove he did anything illegal regardless of why he pardoned these people. Even if it can be shown that Bevin was paid or otherwise compensated prior to pardoning these people, it’s unlikely he would be convicted unless there’s a document showing his promise to issue a pardon in exchange for the compensation.
The Supreme Court did a lot to ensure most cases of bribery can’t be prosecuted.
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Until we see Trump pardons,we ain’t seen nothing yet.
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I thought that, in Kentucky, the Governor’s power of pardon was absolute. It’s pretty clear what Bevin is, but how will an FBI investigation undo any of his actions?
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They won’t, not directly, but if bribes happened then it could put Bevin in jail. There’s also the possibility of prosecuting those making the bribes, and those pardoned for conspiracy to commit bribery.
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America. It has come to this.
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Hey FBI, as long as you’re going to Kentucky, why not investigate MoscowMitch at the same time? He’s as sleazy as Bevin.
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I think the more accurate question is can he be subject to civil penalties of any of those he pardoned commit more crimes.
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Maybe. Bribery. If someone gave him (or his campaign fund) money specifically for a pardon thin I think yes he can be prosecuted.
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“Among the 428 pardons and commutations, Bevin issued some to people convicted of extremely violent crimes such as Patrick Baker who was convicted in Knox County Circuit Court in 2017 of murder, robbery, impersonating a peace officer and tampering with physical evidence, per the pardon order.”
“Reached for comment, a Bevin spokesperson replied, ‘There is nothing unusual about a governor pardoning anyone – including heroin dealers, school shooters, child rapists, grave robbers, cannibals, fugitive Nazis, serial puppy killers, and living organ thieves,’ before quickly adding, ‘OR that guy who liked to amputate baby limbs’.”
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Different state, but Huckabee wasn’t sued after two of his pardonees went on to kill four Oregon cops.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/us/matt-bevin-kentucky-crimes.html?searchResultPosition=1
Delmar Partin was convicted of strangling a woman and stuffing her body in a barrel.
Micah Schoettle was sent to prison after a middle schooler testified that he had repeatedly sexually assaulted her, starting from the time she was 9.
Patrick Baker was found guilty of killing a man and impersonating a United States marshal during a robbery.
All three men walked out of prison this week after Kentucky’s outgoing governor, Matt Bevin, issued more than 400 pardons and commutations during the final days of his administration.
Drawing particular scrutiny was the pardon of Mr. Baker, who was convicted of shooting and killing a man during a home invasion in 2014; he was later sentenced to 19 years in prison. His family hosted a fund-raiser for Mr. Bevin that raised $21,500 last year, The Courier Journal reported.
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“But we don’t pardon methodists!”
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The crime is obvious. Let’s see if the puppy dogs left tracks. I hope Bevin stashed away enough cash to bribe his way out of prison.
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MoscowMitch was Bevin’s mentor.
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ie: future campaign donors
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It probably won’t. I am not even sure what jurisdiction they would have to investigate, unless there is evidence/strong suspicion of bribery behind the pardons. They are state crimes, after all.
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Almost certainly not. Pardoning someone is for a specific crime they committed in the past, it is not a guarantee that they will never break the law again in the future. By that same school of thought, that’s why you cannot pardon someone for future crimes.
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It sounds like there might be some quid pro quo going on to some extent, but I can’t imagine all of the 400 odd people had wealth to send his way. It seems like to some extent it’s just a big FU to the incoming administration and the people of Kentucky for ousting him.
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