This is the type of leadership that Mike Pence could bring straight to the White House: He has opted to leave a conviction in place, even though it means stunting a wrongfully convicted man’s job opportunities. Christy Gutowski writes:
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has declined to rule on a historic pardon request involving the wrongful conviction of an Illinois man.
In a letter Tuesday, the governor's general counsel told Keith Cooper's attorney they first must exhaust all possible judicial options for appeal. The letter essentially allows the Republican vice presidential candidate to avoid ruling on the Country Club Hills man's claim of innocence until a new Indiana governor takes over in January.
"It crushed me a little bit," Cooper, a 49-year-old forklift operator, said after reading the letter. "I haven't give up hope. My hope is what keeps me strong, but I'm human and it hurts."
Cooper served almost a decade in prison after being convicted of an armed robbery in 1996. The case later came into question after the conviction of Cooper's co-defendant was thrown out. Given the opportunity to retry his case or be immediately released from jail with the conviction intact, Cooper opted to go free so he could rejoin his wife and provide for his three children. But his felony conviction has continued to restrict his job opportunities.
In 2014, the Indiana Parole Board advised Pence to grant Cooper a pardon, but Pence doesn't care. He's got his eyes on the election. When you’re an aspiring politician, having to make actual decisions can really get in the way of one’s advancement.
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