GOP presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, stands behind his decision which granted Maurice Clemmons clemency in 2000.
Clemmons is believed to be responsible for the slaying of four police officers at a coffee shop in Parkland, Washington. After a two-day manhunt, Clemmons was shot dead by police when he refused to show the officer his hands.
On his way to giving a speech to students at Jacksonville University this morning, Huckabee quickly addressed reporter’s questions, all of which related to Clemmons’ commuted 108-year sentence. “The idea that I’m some bleeding heart that lets anyone go in nonsense,” said Huckabee.
Huckabee Liable for Murdered Cops
“Your looking at this nine years later and trying to make something as if I can look in to the future,” Huckabee told reporters Wednesday. “I wish I could have. Good Lord, I wish I had that power. I wish I could have done that. But I don’t know how anyone can do it. Nobody at that point was saying he’s a cop killer.”
Court documents state that Clemmons arrived at the coffee shop Sunday morning with a .38 caliber revolver, later found with six spent casings, and a 9 mm handgun.
What unfolded was the deaths of four Pierce County Sherriff’s Department officers, Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens, Greg Richards, and Sgt. Mark Renninger.
Murdered Pierce County Sherriff's Officers
Prosecutors have said there is evidence to support the notion that Clemmons extensive network of friends helped him to evade the police. Two of Clemmons’ friends were arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court charged with rendering criminal assistance. Evidently friends and family helped dress Clemmons’ gunshot wound, gave him a cell phone to use, offered him shelter, and either drove him or provided him with a vehicle for transportation.
According to testimony provided to police by brothers of Clemmons, Douglas and Eddie Davis, he boasted of his plan to kill police officers and had two hand guns to prove his intentions. When Clemmons arrived home the next day, he announced that “he had taken care of his business,” the brothers stated.
The Davis brothers are being held, charged with a Class C felony, with bail set at $500,000 for Douglas and $700,000 for Eddie.
Earlier today, half-brother of Clemmons, Rickey Hinton, accused of lying to police Sunday evening when they stopped and questioned him near Clemmons’ residence, entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frederick Flemming ordered that Hinton be held on $2 million bail.
Related Information
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Law Changes to Prevent Future Police Murders
A Mike Huckabee I Could Vote For
This is just one big unfortunate situation. I don’t blame Huckabee for taking pitty on this guy, when Clemmons was just a kid. Huckabee couldn’t have possibly known what this guy was capable of. If he had of know what he was going to do, he would have never granted clemency. I’m really very sorry for everyone involved in this case. Huckabee for taking the criticism he has, Maurice Clemmons’ family, and of course the families of the fallen officers.