This just in on CNN's breaking news -- Mark Warner has granted clemency to Robin Lovitt. Lovitt would've been the 1000th person executed in the U.S.
Story Here
Gov. Mark R. Warner had said he was agonizing over whether to grant Lovitt clemency on the grounds that a court clerk illegally destroyed much of the evidence in the case and prevented DNA testing that Lovitt's lawyers say could exonerate him.
"No case has been more troubling," Warner said Tuesday on WTOP radio in Washington. "There's no case I've spent more time thinking about, praying about."
Warner, a Democrat, has never granted clemency in the nearly four years he has been governor. During that time, 11 men have been executed.
If this isn't a sign the guy wants to run for President, I'm not sure what is. Historically a supporter of the death penalty, this popular outgoing governor has a PAC and now avoids a dubious distinction of executing number 1000.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suspicious of him or anything, but I can't help but think political ambition had at least an inkling of influence in this, as much as his own conscience.
Whatever the case, good on you, Mr. Warner. One might perhaps now wonder if the Governator will don this helm -- or if he will try and
follow suit, in an attempt to save his political hide.