Mississippi Governor Pardons 210, Including Murderers, Rapists
EmailIn a stunning goodbye, exiting Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned 210 state inmates, just moments before he left office this morning. Nearly all the orders were “full, complete and unconditional” pardons. A few were suspended sentences, mostly for medical reasons.
Mississippi’s Secretary of State released the long list this afternoon.
The timing was perfect for the Barbour administration to avoid discussing the issue. Calls to Barbour’s people were answered by the staff of newly sworn-in Gov. Phil Bryant. Bryant’s office respectfully declined comment.
While it’s difficult at first glance to know the back-story of each and every pardon, what’s most striking is the number of pardons for violent crimes — nearly a dozen for murder, and two for statutory rape. Both men and women were pardoned, most of them convicted on drug, DUI, burglary and armed robbery charges.
Barbour was already under fire for pardoning five prisoners who were assigned to cook and clean at the governor’s mansion in Jackson. Four of those men were convicted of murder, and 40-year-old David Gatlin had just been denied parole just two weeks before. In years past, the governor has explained that it is tradition to pardon prisoners assigned to the mansion.
Gatlin was sentenced to life in prison for killing his estranged wife in 1993, and shooting Randy Walker, her male friend, in the head. Walker survived, and his wife Crystal Walker told Jackson’s Clarion Ledger that they’re now both afraid for their lives.
“On parole he’d at least have to check in and have some supervision,” she said Sunday. “Now he could live beside us, or we could run into him at Walmart. You’re always looking over your shoulder.”
Barbour remains popular in Mississippi, and even critics say it was his right to issue the pardons, and he probably had his reasons. Barbour will be forever credited with helping Mississippi quickly and efficiently recover from Hurricane Katrina, in stark contrast to the recovery efforts in neighboring Louisiana.
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Gotta make room for pot smokers!
Posted by: bob | January 10, 2012, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
This whole country is going to H3LL. And ABC… are you EVER going to mention SOPA/PIPA? or is your Daddy Disney still making you keep quiet because they’re such big supporters? I’m sure this comment will be CENSORED, just like SOPA/PIPA is wanting to do to the internet.
Posted by: Iv&Al | January 10, 2012, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
Some people should never be let out of prison. If any of the living victims are harmed, that will be blood on the governor’s hands.
Posted by: Crystal | January 10, 2012, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
There should be a law about requiring ex-murderers and rapists that have been pardoned to stay within the state boundaries of the governor that pardoned them.
Posted by: Joshua | January 10, 2012, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
Violent criminals should not be eligible for pardon. Period.
Posted by: Sheila | January 10, 2012, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
criminals are criminals! this is awfull
Posted by: phyza | January 10, 2012, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
I’m really curious. Given that most of the people who are imprisoned are Black males, how many out of the 210 murderers, rapists and other criminals pardoned were Black males?
Posted by: G | January 10, 2012, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
BAD….I am so upset!!! Why!!!!!!?????
Posted by: betty | January 10, 2012, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
it’s gone be alotta people coming up dead and raped because of that stupid judge.
Posted by: jazzy | January 10, 2012, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Why do we even bother spending the time and tons of money to see these cases through court if one single person can literally overturn the jury’s decision and undo everything just on a personal whim?
Posted by: Joyce | January 10, 2012, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
What do you expect from a corrupt, southern, redneck Republican? He probably gave them all guns as going away gifts too! And to think, some people wanted this moron to run for President! I hope he chokes on his grits!
Posted by: NHGuy | January 10, 2012, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
I’m leaving my gun loaded
Posted by: Laurie | January 10, 2012, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
NHGuy is right on the money. Unbelievable that this idiot would do something so reckless and irresponsible and then waltz off into the sunset knowing the ramifications of his act and not giving a rat’s tush about it.
And if his constituents still think he’s a good guy, I keep my butt north of the Mason-Dixon, thank you very much!
Posted by: EllieK | January 10, 2012, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
It is hard to understand why he would do this to the victims and the public. Although the practice is sometimes useful for justice, it would lead to more accountability if it were not allowed in the last 6 months of the governor’s term. Then the decisions would get the scrutiny they deserve.
Posted by: Dave | January 11, 2012, 12:28 am 12:28 am
Imagine if you were one of those wrongly convicted.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 11, 2012, 5:25 am 5:25 am
I am ashamed to be identified as a Mississippian. But this is a man who made his fortune as a lobbyist in DC prior to being elected by a bigoted far right wing Republican “christian” population. He plans to return to DC as a lobbyist now that he is out of office. Lobbying is merely a legally acceptable form of bribery. My point, this deplorable behavior is to be expected from someone who has lived his life and made his fortune as a Republican lobbyist.He is an embarrassment to Mississippian’s with a social consciousness and an IQ greater than 80 points. AND he wanted to be President!
Posted by: Bonnie | January 11, 2012, 8:28 am 8:28 am
In the words of Malcolm X, chickens are coming home to roost. REPUBS?????
Posted by: bwilhite | January 11, 2012, 9:32 am 9:32 am
Fortunately for him, Barbour will never have to deal with the ramifications of his acts. The former inmates will never live by him or even go to the exclusive areas he’s apart. So, that leaves us who live in the areas they will mostly live or frequent, to deal with it. Isn’t that something? Only in America!
Posted by: Whigham | January 11, 2012, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Really? Let’s just open the doors and let them all out why don’t you… what the heck are you thinking, or WERE thinking? Does it make you feel good knowing now you have your state in a panic? Come on, I know Mississippi is the poorest state, but really now… you showed how you have a lack of common sense down there too Governor… thanks for scaring your people.. you did a heck of a way to go out in style!
Posted by: Hope | January 11, 2012, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
I dont care if it is tradition or not. Do the right thing. I could understand possibly for non violent offenders or if someone was proven innocent by DNA but rapists and murderers? I dont even lie in MS and I am outraged by this!!! And why would a violent offender be allowed to work at the governors mansion? WHY????? I dont blame the families that were affected by these people for being scared. I cannot see any good coming out of this.
“Barbour was already under fire for pardoning five prisoners who were assigned to cook and clean at the governor’s mansion in Jackson. Four of those men were convicted of murder, and 40-year-old David Gatlin had just been denied parole just two weeks before. In years past, the governor has explained that it is tradition to pardon prisoners assigned to the mansion.”
Posted by: Nicole | January 11, 2012, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
I USED to like Haley Barbour… What he’s done should be a crime on it’s own. A jury of 12 men and women put these people behind bars after hearing all the evidence, and both sides of the story, and THIS idiot let’s them out because he CAN.
Posted by: Quinton | January 11, 2012, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
I think if he wants to pardon these criminals then they should be required to live near door to him.
Posted by: Jack | January 18, 2012, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
Not the President or any Governor should be allowed to pardon anyone. It is a slap in the face to all the citizens that sat on those trials, left their familes and were sequestered only to have their verdict overturned. Especially with DNA out there. This power needs to ba taken away immerdiatly from these idiot Governors and Presidents.
Posted by: honey | January 21, 2012, 2:45 am 2:45 am
This whole ordeal is so ridiculous. His stupidity not only puts the former victims’ families in danger, but everyone else too. It just goes to show how absolutely stupid some of our nation’s leaders are. Pardoning convicted killers and rapists just because of tradition should be completely eradicated. If all it takes for a cold blooded murderer to get out of jail is work in the governor’s mansion, then I’m afraid of what else will become legal. What’s worse is if the former victims’ families were not contacted immediately about the criminals release. Even if it is tradition, who let’s out murderers and rapists? Moreover people who are convicted of a violent crime will most likely be convicted again for another violent crime. The least he could have done if he was going to be stupid was let out only inmates who had not been convicted of violent crimes and/or had been displaying exceedingly good behavior. If this is justice I think the dictionary needs revising.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2012, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
So, call it Mississippi “tradition” that the governor gets to have convicted felons do housework at his mansion in exchange for a pardon?! What century is this?!!! Sounds like an outdated law rooted in jim crow …
Posted by: ANONYMOUS | February 2, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
People go to prison for a reason. Not to be let out for the crimes they have done or the lives they have taken. Get rid of that bleeding heart, and use your brains. I’d say common sense, but that’s not so common anymore.
Posted by: campbell | February 11, 2012, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
This only proves the governor was corrupt as it was. There’s no reason why the new governor can’t repeal the pardons while those who suffered the results of these terrible crimes plus the millions of dollars it took to prosecute all these scum bags flushed right down the tubes and I hope the people will know they made a very bad choice in voting for this scum bag governor who was most likely even sexually involved with those crooks working at his mansion. Total scum for a governor, trash as trash can be.
Posted by: Phil Anderson | April 14, 2012, 10:16 am 10:16 am