Outgoing Miss. Governor Who Considered Making 2012 GOP Run Pardons 8 Killers
- Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:24pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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The families of eight murder victims are outraged and onlookers dumbfounded as outgoing Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour pardoned seven men convicted of murder and one convicted of manslaughter during his final days in office, according to The Clarion-Ledger. The newspaper reports that survivors and family members of victims now want to mandate that a governor has to hear from them before he let’s killers go free.
“If the governor has the right to singlehandedly circumvent the entire justice system, he should have to at least look the family (of a victim) in the eye,” Randy Walker, who was wounded by one of the men Barbour pardoned last week, told the Clarion-Ledger. “This is the coward’s way out.”
Relatives of three victims told The Associated Press on Monday that state corrections officials notified them over the weekend that the convicts were to be released this past Sunday. Barbour was extremely popular during his two terms as governor of the Magnolia State, and has held considerable influence in national GOP matters. Barbour had even considered running for president in 2012. In 2010, a POLITICO profile labeled Gov. Barbour as “currently the most powerful Republican in American politics,” based on his prolific fundraising and ability as a strategist.
Family members of the victims killed by the men Barbour pardoned are shocked by the governor’s actions.
Tiffany Ellis Brewer, sister of Tammy Ellis Gatlin, told The Associated Press that David Gatlin’s release revived the grief for her family.
“It‘s liked it’s happened all over again to us,” Brewer said. “We can‘t do anything about our situation now because he’s out, he’s gone. But I don’t want anyone in this world to feel the fear, the pain and the hurt that our families are feeling right now. Something needs to be done.”
David Gatlin was convicted of killing his estranged wife in 1993, and shooting Randy Walker, her longtime friend.
“I’m totally disgusted,” Walker, who survived the shooting, said Monday. “I think Gov. Barbour at heart is a great man. I think he’s done a lot of good for the state of Mississippi, but I think he’s made a huge error here…. One man can’t put you in jail. I don‘t think it’s right for one man to remove you from jail.”
According to The Clarion-Ledger, all eight convicted killers that Barbour pardoned had served part of their sentence in the Governor’s Mansion as trustees, a privilege awarded to well-behaved prisoners that allows them to live and work in the mansion. The newspaper notes that it is a custom in Mississippi for governors to pardon such trustees.
The L.A. Times reports that criticisms of Gov. Barbour’s actions have come from Democrats in addition to family members of victims. State Rep. Bobby Moak said in a news conference Monday that his fellow Democrats in the Statehouse would introduce a bill that would regulate gubernatorial pardons, and another planned bill that would prevent convicts convicted of capital murder from serving in the governor’s mansion.
CNN has video on the growing controversy in Mississippi, including gripping comments from family members of victims:
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Comments (103)
RodT82721
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:02pmI think there’s a lot more to this story that we are not being told.
Haley Barbour has been around a long time and isn’t known for being an air-head rino. So until the ‘rest-fo-the-story’ is told I’ll withhold my judgement.
How long have these folks been in prison, how much of their sentence did they serve, where their crimes, crimes of passion and have they shown the needed contrition for their acts.
Report Post »It goes on and on, but the people of the state set their own rules, and as long as the gov follows the rules, what more can you ask?
Being a victim sucks, but staying in prison, just to appease the victims sucks too.
Ookspay
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:14pmDid you really just say… “Being a victim sucks, but staying in prison, just to appease the victims sucks too?”
Sucking has nothing to do with it! It is called justice and punishment. Perhaps it would have been much better to simply execute these killers. “Appease the victims”? Only those who have been victimized should have the right to forgive and pardon these murderers. Too bad the biggest victims are dead, forgiveness is not possible in this lifetime.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:31pmCrime and Punishment. We had better get back to that civilized principle.
They are killers. They chose to be killers. They stole another’s life. They must pay for their choice. They must pay with their life. Otherwise there is no justice, and if there is no justice, then the Barbour’s of this world deserve the justice outside of the law that has no justice.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:45pmThere seems to be something weird here, not sure what he was thinking. Mississippi has had a tradition for prisoners working in the mansion and then the governor pardoning them on the last day of his term in office. It seemed to have started with some of our many gay governors, every other one for the last 40 years, had sex offenders in the mansion, and they always released them on the last day. Don’t know why Haley had murders working in the mansion, or followed the lead of the limp wristed governors of the past.
Report Post »PaBowHunter
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:01pm“Staying in prison just to appease the victims must suck too?” Really?
It must also suck to be a moron.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:53pmSo Barbour prefers the prison type?
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 4:47pmThey were trustee’s at the Govs mansion…thats all you need to know. He got to know them and maybe even like them enough to cut them this break of a lifetime. Just wish they were as merciful to their victims as this Gov has been in releasing them before their sentences were completed. I’m sure there are many more lesser criminals who will complete their time and get no such early release. We have an aweful justice system in this country but still far better than most countries maybe except for Singapore.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 5:57pmI have always liked and respected Haley Barbour, but if one of these men kills again, I would hold him personallly responsible. This should have been done in the ‘sunshine’ with the victim‘s family’s input. My husband’s uncle was shot and killed by a 15 and 16 year old many years back when he only had $20.00 in his pocket. He tried to write them a check for his life but they killed him anyway and left him in a ditch. They then went on a abduction/robbery/killing spree and before it was over 3 or 4 more people died. Someone in the family is there at every parole hearing and, hopefully, they will never get out of jail.
Report Post »ICRedifURBlue
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 8:50pmIf I was in the family of one of those murdered, the newly freed killer would not live thru the year…….maybe that’s the plan…….
Report Post »ipaevavu
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 9:29pmsometimes the harshest of all punishment is mercy.
Report Post »johnannegalt
Posted on January 11, 2012 at 1:40pmHe must have a good reason.. Barbour has never been a RINO.
Report Post »Michael600r
Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:23pmIf they killed someone, they should be dead, not pardoned.
Report Post »theaveng
Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:17pm>>>”It is called justice and punishment.”
I thought the Bible also teaches forgiveness, which is basically what a pardon is.
Report Post »kellied
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:06amI think that if the guy had killed one of his family members, his dad,mom,son, or daughter–you wouldn’t have seen this guy being pardoned . And shouldn’t happen. These people should have to live by the law just like everyone else.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:01pmWhile reading this article I kept thinking about the Border Control agent that is sitting in prison for doing his job.
Report Post »There seems to be no justice anymore.
NOBALONEY
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:00pmKillers set free to kill again!!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:12pmWhy didn’t you get a gun for Christmas? The rest of us did. California has released thousands and they might be heading your way. The government thinks your expendable.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:15pmWhen a judge or politician pulls one of these “pardons” they should be held responsible for any acts that the criminal commits after .. that would put a STOP to it!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:00pmdon‘t forget obama has been floating his concept of ’rehabbing‘ these convicts into his ’private civilian army’. never forget Hitler did the exact same thing and it sure worked well for him.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:59pmLooks like it will be open season on the Family members, unless they are Proactive and Conceal Carry at all times, and if threatened by these Murderer’s, Have no qualm about taking care of Business. My prayers to the families of the victims, and God have mercy on your soul, Gov. Barbour, if anyone loses their life because of your actions.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:58pmwe saw some sickening tv show about what’s in our prisons a few nights ago. we have got to get back to early America values. you kill someone, you GET executed. period. enough of housing these animals at OUR expense.
Feb 1st 2013 should see mass executions of every convicted murderer incarcerated at every prison. period. we should have a death squad in every state and just go cell to cell and pop them in their cages. think of the Billions of OUR hard-earned tax dollars it would save America every YEAR.
Report Post »drago
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:07pm@Burnthills
Report Post »As they used to say in the 60′s, “right on”……
JRRS
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:21pmThat is sick….but I coul;dn’t agree more!!
Report Post »JAMACAMECRAZYMAN
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:25pmI could not believe my eyes when I happened across one of these “Reality lockup” shows. All I could think of is the people interested in watching this crap we call television, want to acclimate to their future surroundings……….
Report Post »drmarkr
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:56pmTo think I actually liked this guy and talked highly of him…..
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:56pm” In 2010, a POLITICO profile labeled Gov. Barbour as “currently the most powerful Republican in American politics,” based on his prolific fundraising and ability as a strategist.”
It’s sad that the ability to raise funds is what makes a politician(Republican, Democrat, or Independent) powerful.
Report Post »maccow
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:16pmI always use POLITICO’s “Facts” (cough,,, hack) when evaluating my conservative leaders. If political places Barber at the bottom of their list, then his stock rises in mine. So i’m saying thanks for the useful information.
Report Post »Ironeagle
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:55pmWow. There has got to be more to this story than what is reported. I’d like to hear the Govs side of this.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:47pmHe’s not talking, rumor is he‘s all choke up and can’t decide if he should spit or swallow.
Report Post »M13
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:56pmSwampy sounds like you’re describing Barney Frank.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:20pm2 of our last 4 governors were caught in either their office, or in the mansion with their clothes off, with inmates. One even got kicked out as ambassador to Saudi Arabia for sodomy, before he got put in charge of the US navy. So from our history, the Barney Frank analogy isn’t far off base.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:50pm.
Free to Kill Again, and Again, and Again……………
Maybe one those Killers will Kill someone in Haley’s family. And teach him a lesson about being Stupid!!!!…………
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:56pmMaybe the members of the victims families should make that visit?
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:56pmHaley = rino
Report Post »stogieguy7
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:49pmWhat in the hell is wrong with Haley Barbour? I cannot imagine any possible justification for such an outrage. This is the kind of screwed-up cr@p that Huckleberry did in Arkansas; perhaps even worse. And here I thought that Barbour was a good governor and a good guy. Wow, was I wrong. What he did was criminal. Freeing a bunch of lowlifes who should, by all rights, be lined up against a wall and shot!?! And, not only do we need to feel for the various victims’ families, but we also need to worry for the future victims of this idiocy.
Of course the dems are feigning outrage and making hay with this. This is enough to disillusion an entire generation of Mississippians. It is an outrage. Horrible, just horrible.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:49pmThis really does not surprise me at all – lost a great deal of respect for him long time ago. He is just so wishy washy it is pathetic. What a moron.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:48pm=gasp= it is beyond horrifying!
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:46pmWho does Haley Barbour think he is, Mike Huckabee?
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:53pmGreat point… and it does show that Republicans are not any different.
Report Post »imarepub
Posted on January 11, 2012 at 9:23amBarbour is not a Republican. He has infiltrated himself.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:45pmthis disgusts me. total abuse of power beyond the fact that this is legal it is immoral regardless of it’s legality. prayers to the families having to deal with this
Report Post »PAWatcher
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:39pmHow did such a practice of pardoning criminals found guilty by a court of law/jury get started and includes the President of the USA. Pardons should only apply to the turkeys at Thanksgiving.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:43pmOkay, Democrats are whining. Wow, you‘d think they’d be clapping their hands. Of course, this fake outrage from them is falling on my deaf ears. They are notorious for wanting to pardon cop killers and pedophiles and have done so, yet “trusties” that have served in the Governor’s mansion are “forbidden” pardons. It seems they paid their debt to society and if Haley feels they should be released who am I to question his judgement? Democrats are only outraged when it is not their pardon doing the pardoning.
Democrats tell it too someone who cares.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:52pm“It seems they paid their debt to society… .”
Not anywhere near that paid by their innocent victims. How do people make such foolish statements?
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:02pm@Cofe
Judging by your response, it seems you are more outraged at the “fake” anger from democrats about this issue and not the fact that there were a bunch of pardons.
This is the problem with politics and are entrenched in their political affiliations.
It always comes down to, “If I do it, or one of the people I’m affiliated do it, it’s all good and dandy. If someone I don’t know, or disagree with did it, then it’s wrong.”
Why not be outraged when BOTH parties do it? People need to stop focusing on who is outraged, and focus on what actually happened.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:14pmWell I guess your sign on name tells it all.
First of all, if a person can recognize they did wrong and has kept out of trouble in prison for 18 years, do you not think they deserve a second chance? There is such a thing as redemption or is that not in your vocabulary?
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:33pmCOFemale, redemption is for God to decide, not you. Killers must be punished. Their victims were not granted any pardons.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:39pmTHE_JERK – you might want to read up on the definition of redemption as there is more than one context and it is not only in the religious sense. “Atonement of guilt” is one of them.
You can disagree with my posts, that is your right. Nothing any of you say will change my mind. If forgiveness is not in your vocabulary, then you will forever live under that mans power. If you are into giving your power away to someone else, then you will live in misery. Forgiveness, isn’t forgetting.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:41pmWhat the h*ll is wrong with this idiot?? How could he have done that?
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:47pmmiss along with louisanna have long been states run by criminal leaning political people like this one
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:41pmRINOs can truly disguise themselves or perhaps its just real Republicans are sh !t. We need a true Tea Party !
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:46pmI think by the next Presidential election .. no matter who wins this one .. you may VERY well see just that!
Report Post »Jefferson
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:54pmYou HAD a “true” Tea Party. It was started by Ron Paul in 2007 and then hijacked by Fox, Beck, Hannity,and Palin, and the rest.
In the beginning it was pure. Limited Constitutional Govt. Sensible foreign policy. Reigning in the Federal Reserve, Cut the spending, cut the foreign aid, eliminate the IRS, etc.
It was about putting AMERICA first.
Now it’s about “we must die with Israel or we are all going to hell.”
It’s been co-opted and bastardized.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:18pmPaulbots are the ones who are damaging the TEA Party … along with Paul himself. No the TRUE TEA Party was started when Obama started his MARXIST March … April 15th, 2009 .. First National TEA Parties.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:23pm@JEFFERSON
Ron Paul is a libertarian. Libertarians didn’t start the tea party movement, conservatives did. Paul just jumped on the bandwagon like everyone else, because they were afraid that if they didn’t embrace it they were going to be swept out like the trash.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:40pmThis is exactly why many states have enacted laws against lame duck pardons. It’s a long standing political tradition to take a bunch of money to pardon a bunch of people just before leaving office.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:47pmThis is why the RKBA is one that should be practiced daily!
Report Post »TheBigMike
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:37pmHey Christopher Santarelli, what is a “trustie?“ Did the trustees in the Governors Mansion know about these ”trusties?“ Does your editor know about these ”trusties?”
Report Post »geonj
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:45pmthank you, that was my thought.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:53pmyes we’ve noticed the YOUTH of the Blaze staff as they WORK at Blaze for their future. — but don’t forget, a probably huge majority of them were public school educated [indoctrinated] long before they reached the Blaze. yes it is a little disconcerting at times we’ve seen a HUGE amount of misspelled and misused words in some of the articles. we can understand it from exuberantly typing-fast posters but not IN the article.
Report Post »TheBigMike
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:46pmHi Burnt. I just sent an email to Scott Baker and he responded immediately. He made lots of excuses and justifications, but he also said he was aware of the problem and seeks to improve.
Report Post »Nemo13
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:36pmThis kind of crap has to stop. Just like Ahnold did a favor for a friend and got his friends son out of jail. Who is this guy doing favors for? Something shady has to be going on.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:36pmWhat a way to end your term Haley. I thought you were better than this.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:48pmGo ‘Bama!
Report Post »Harry Assenback
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:53pmAgreed. These men should have served there entire term. I sure hope none of them were given life sentences.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:36pmAdieu, adieu, I bid y’all- ADIEU!! Ever get the impression that politicians are goin’ – - uh, er…. NUTZ!
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:34pmI have never condoned vigilantism, but these kinds of actions by executives and judges are beginning to make me think otherwise. These executives and judges must somehow be made accountable, and held responsible, for their actions. I don’t know of any other recourse that law abiding citizens have available.
Report Post »Help us.
TXPilot
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:30pmThanks to our traitorous politicians, we are entering a time when the gun is going to become the rule of law, because there won’t be any other valid form of justice. I wonder how long it will be til some of these criminals encounter one or more of the relatives of the people they killed, and real justice will be done.
Report Post »expatinontariocanada
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:38pmThat‘s if the killer doesn’t kill the family member or other victims first…
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:44pmexcept in many states we are prosecuting the law abiding gun owners who have been forced to use them. our hands are tied.
Report Post »Dosrios
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:53pmThe answer to that, HorseCrazy, is the old axiom: Shoot. Shovel. Shut up.
When the system becomes totally corrupt, witness the refusal of any judge to pursue the forty or so lawsuits requesting Obama’s birth credentials regarding Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, its members should get what they deserve.
Report Post »