There's no more denying it: Rick Perry would rather get his bloody hands even dirtier than admit he helped kill an innocent man. But even I'm shocked at the depths to which he'll go to avoid responsibility.
On Friday, fire expert Craig Beyler was scheduled to testify before a state panel investigating the wrongful execution of Cameron Todd Willingham in 2004.
Today, Rick Perry cancelled that testimony and removed three of his own appointees from the panel.
Rick Perry is re-stacking an already stacked deck because he knows what an honest investigation would conclude.
This is a cover-up playing out before our eyes.
The Story So Far: in late August, Craig Beyler--hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission (TFSC)--released his report on the Willingham case, concluding that the state had no grounds to execute Willingham, and that even given the limited knowledge of fire science at the time of his conviction the prosecution's case against Willingham was based entirely on junk science.
The investigators had poor understandings of fire science and failed to acknowledge or apply the contemporaneous understanding of the limitations of fire indicators. Their methodologies did not comport with the scientific method or the process of elimination. A finding of arson could not be sustained based upon the standard of care expressed by NFPA 921, or the standard of care expressed by fire investigation texts and papers in the period 1980–1992.
Willingham was executed in 2004, years after it was clear the case against him was bullshit. Governor Perry, knowing he had a person wrongfully convicted on death row, did absolutely nothing to delay or stop the execution. He sat idly while Todd Willingham was executed for an accidental fire.
Fast-forward to today: Beyler is only two days from appearing in Texas to present his report to the TFSC, and it's clear that anything remotely approaching a fair assessment of the case will result in a major embarrassment for the only man who could have stopped the execution but for whatever reason refused to. So what does Perry do?
He shitcans three of the board's members, including the head of the Commission, and delays the meeting.
A report concluding a faulty investigation led to a Texas man's execution won't be reviewed by a state board as planned Friday after Gov. Rick Perry abruptly removed three people from the panel, forcing the meeting's cancellation.
Perry, who has said the execution was appropriate, replaced the head of the Texas Forensic Science Commission and two of its eight other board members Wednesday. The upheaval on the commission came just 48 hours before it was to consider a report critical of the arson finding leading to Cameron Todd Willingham's execution for the deaths of his three daughters in a 1991 fire.
...
Perry told The Associated Press the terms of the dismissed board members were expiring and replacing them "was pretty standard business as usual." But several board members have served more than one term and had their appointments renewed.
...
Perry appointed Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley as the new head of the panel, replacing Austin attorney Sam Bassett. Bradley acknowledged he and the other new member appointed by Perry have a steep learning curve ahead of them. Friday's canceled meeting has not been rescheduled.
This is Banana Republicanism at its finest. This is nothing less than a plot to keep Texans from learning the truth about their Governor, and about the fatal flaw in their state's death penalty. This is a plot to keep the murder of Cameron Todd Willingham from being properly investigated. This is an obstruction of justice.
TEXAS KOSSACKS: CONTACT GOVERNOR PERRY'S OFFICE AND (respectfully and calmly) RAISE HOLY HELL ABOUT THIS FLAGRANT ATTEMPT AT A COVER-UP:
http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/
(512) 463-2000 (Main Switchboard)
(800) 252-9600 (Citizens' opinion hotline)
(512) 463-1849 (Fax)
And when you're done with that, let the Austin American-Statesman hear from you, too, by writing them a letter encouraging them to hold Perry's feet to the fire:
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/feedback/lettersubmit.html
NON-TEXANS: GET THIS ON THE RADAR OF EVERY NEWS OUTLET YOU CAN THINK OF:
Rick Perry is interfering with a state investigation because he thinks the results will make him look bad in an election year. Instead, he's chosen to look corrupt and shameless. He can't be allowed to dodge his responsibility for allowing an innocent man to die.
-----
Look, I don't believe in the death penalty, and I know from years of talking about it here that a lot of you do. But this goes beyond whether one supports or opposes capital punishment: this is about a man being wrongly executed, and a craven coward who won't accept responsibility for his part in it.
Update [2009-9-30 20:54:52 by JR]:: Looks like Kay Bailey Hutchinson is testing out how attacking Perry for this shameless crap will play, judging by her quote to the Dallas Morning News:
Perry's challenger in the March Republican primary, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, said that the case has not been handled properly.
"Why you wouldn't at least have the hearing that the former member suggested, to find out what the facts are, when a man has been executed and now the facts are in dispute – just like DNA has given more tools to determine the facts," she said. "I am strongly for the death penalty, but always with the absolute assurance that you have the ability to be sure – with the technology that we have – that a person is guilty."
A big push tonight means a stronger condemnation from across the spectrum against Perry's actions tomorrow. He needs to be hit from all sides for this one!