From MSNBC, another case of clemency from Mike Huckabee that doesn't seem to pass the smell test.
This one is a little different in that this one seems to have had the full support of the parole board without apparent previous intervention by Huckabee. But other elements of the case seem disturbingly familiar.
Here's the intro:
From NBC’s Amna Nawaz, Investigative Producer
Questions are being raised about then-Gov. Huckabee's 2004 decision to grant clemency to a repeat Driving While Intoxicated offender in Arkansas named Eugene Fields, despite the objections of a law enforcement official at the time. Documents obtained by NBC News reveal Fields' case was handled differently from any other DWI clemency or pardon granted by Huckabee, and some Republicans are now suggesting significant political contributions may have influenced the governor's decision.
Apparently this guy was on his 4th DUI conviction and received a six-year sentence and a $5,000 fine.
But six weeks into serving his sentence, he appealed for clemency and the parole board stated unanimously that they supported approval of this application. Within a few months, Huckabee would grant clemency and then Fields was free to slosh his way around the streets and highways of Arkansas again.
However, the reason-boxes on the clemency forms which the governor would normally check for "excessive sentence" or "correcting an injustice" were passed by and "NA" for "not applicable" was written across the top of the form.
Some officials have stated it was highly unusual for a clemency application to be processed so quickly. And the MADD folks indicated Fields, after his 4th conviction, was definitely a repeat offender. The article notes that along with Fields' application were some tax receipts for donations to various charities. (Maybe this proved what a nice guy he was?)
Well, like a number of other criminals that Huckabee has let off easy, Fields would go on to re-offend. (Are you as surprised as I am?)
But questions about the handling of Fields' case surfaced again in 2006 when he was convicted on another DWI charge, just two years after his release from prison. According to the police report, Fields drove into oncoming traffic on an Arkansas road and into the path of a police officer's car before crossing back into the correct lane.
Once again, the public was placed in jeopardy by a governor who was soft on crime.
The article mentions another factor, in addition to his donations to charitable causes, that may be relevant to Fields' release:
According to Federal Election Commission records, a month after Fields' appeal was denied, his wife made a $5,000 donation to the State Republican Party in June of 2003. A month later, she made an additional $5,000 donation, again to the Republican Party of Arkansas. The following month, Fields reported to prison and began his clemency application process. He was a free man in less than a year.
"In the summer of 2003 there's no real political activity," said the former official. "It's always a tough time to raise money in those periods, and all of sudden $10,000 comes walking through the door when there's no campaign going on? There's no reason to give that kind of money then."
Prior to his wife's donations, Fields had made a $10,000 donation to the Republican Party of Arkansas in October of 2000 under "Fields Investment Company," the name of his business. Both Mrs. Fields' 2003 donations and Mr. Fields' 2000 donation placed them among the largest, individual donors to the Republican Party of Arkansas in those years, on par with donations from members of the Walton family, of the Wal-Mart department store chain. The only other donation made by either Fields to the State Republican Party was in the amount of $500 in August of 2004.
Hmmm. And hmmmm again. Hmmmm, indeed.
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