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Huckabee Aide: Gov Pushed for Rapist's Freedom
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ShareDecember 05, 2007 6:00 PM
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee made a rare personal appeal to release a convicted rapist from prison, a former top aide to the GOP presidential hopeful confirmed to ABC News.
Butch Reeves, formerly the criminal justice counsel to the Arkansas governor's office, handled all requests for clemencies and communications with prisoners.
His account of a key 1996 meeting between then-Gov. Huckabee and the state parole board largely supports an earlier version of the meeting by former board member Charles Chastain. It contrasts with Huckabee's position that he did not pressure the board.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
"At their invitation, I went to their meeting. Someone brought up his case," Huckabee said Tuesday, describing his meeting with the board. "Frankly it was simply part of a broader discussion. I did not ask them to do anything."
In a phone interview, Reeves said Huckabee told the board members he thought there was "something nefarious" about the criminal justice system in Dumond's case, and that the rapist got a "raw deal." Huckabee said he believed Dumond's sentence, originally a life sentence plus 20 years, was "way out of bounds" for his crime, raping a 17-year-old high school student.
Reeves said he could recall only a few such appeals being made by a governor.
In an interview Wednesday afternoon, Huckabee told ABC News he believed the Dumond story was a "complete exploitation."
Video: Brian Ross talks to Mike Huckabee about the release of Wayne Dumond
"What a sad thing that in an election year, we're going to take the grief of these people...and make this a political issue, and try to point fingers and blame."
Reeves confirmed Huckabee received at least one letter from an alleged victim of Dumond's, and that he put Huckabee on the phone with her to discuss her alleged rape. The campaign today said Huckabee had received a letter from the woman.
Huckabee's former counsel said the then-governor also received information about Dumond's alleged role in a murder while serving in the Army.
The new information from Reeves puts in sharper contrast Huckabee's recent statements that he wished he "knew more" when he advocated for the release of Dumond in the late 1990s. This morning, ABC News and the Huffington Post Web site reported on letters received by Huckabee's office from Dumond's alleged and confirmed victims and their family members.
"I am also a rape victim of Dumond's," reads one heavily-underlined, bolded letter to Huckabee from a dossier purported to have been in Huckabee's files during the period. "Please reconsider your decision to release Dumond."
"I'm willing to take whatever responsibility anyone wishes to ascribe to me," Huckabee told ABC News Wednesday afternoon. But, he insisted, "I certainly did not pressure that board."
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
December 5, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (64)
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Keep looking at Mike Huckabee's record on granting clemency to convicted murderers. It's scary to think of him with the power of presidential pardons in his hands.
Posted by: Jerrie T | Dec 5, 2007 6:56:39 PM
Let us say for the sake of discussion that Huckabee didn't pressure the board. Has anyone Huckabee why he interjected his opinions to the board re: rape?
Posted by: John Re | Dec 5, 2007 7:41:42 PM
Wasn't it God's will?
Posted by: danno | Dec 5, 2007 8:20:23 PM
Wan't it God's will?
Posted by: danno | Dec 5, 2007 8:21:02 PM
Willy Horton comes early. Not a good move, but he made an error. So have most people that ever made a decision. I am more concerned about the continuing Abortion position and the sell out of the American workers with the support of the criminal immigrants. Either position should remove him from politics.
Posted by: Eugene Elliott | Dec 5, 2007 8:30:26 PM
WHY? No one covering the story has told us WHY Gov. Huckabee interjected himself into this case. WHY?
Posted by: Pam | Dec 5, 2007 9:11:19 PM
Oh our legal system is great, always fair and mistakes are never made? yea right. Too bad it smells fishy with a case and someone gets out too early, whether they should have or not. So what kind of pressure to let him out was it?
Posted by: Jesse | Dec 5, 2007 9:27:37 PM
Looks like big Mikey NEEDS TO DO SOME EXPLAINING!!!!!!! So Mike Huckabee put pressure on the parole board to release this killer???? REAL NICE MIKE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tom | Dec 5, 2007 9:52:38 PM
He still has MY vote!
Posted by: Doris | Dec 5, 2007 10:25:12 PM
Truth: Governor Huckabee did not pardon Dumond. He never took action in the DuMond case that made him parole eligible. He either denied the clemency request, or took no action (which is the same as a denial) on four separate occasions.
He also did not parole Wayne Dumond for he had no authority to do that. Governors in Arkansas don't grant parole-the parole board does. The fact remains that Governor Huckabee didn't commutate, pardon, parole or grant any form of clemency to Wayne DuMond.
Posted by: Tisha | Dec 5, 2007 10:48:58 PM
No one can tell you why Huckabee interjected himself into this case, because Huckabee didn't.
It is plain to me that people are trying twist what ever they can find to keep Huckabee from winning.
Posted by: Tisha | Dec 5, 2007 10:52:38 PM
ABC News of course doesn't tell you two critical facts. First DuMond was only eligible for parole because Governor Jim Guy Tucker (D) had in 1992 reduced DuMond's sentence to 39 years. That would normally make DuMond eligible for parole in 1998. Second, Governor Huckabee apparently considered commuting DuMond's sentence but rejected it after a plea from the victim and her supporters.
Posted by: Chris Baker | Dec 5, 2007 11:01:27 PM
I'm a compassionate Baptist just as Gov. Huckabee. I was excited to see him become a factor in the last couple weeks, but this has me worried. Why can't he tell the truth. Is everyone from Hope like this?
Posted by: Faith Voter | Dec 5, 2007 11:02:54 PM
Pam: Why doesn't Huckster tell the important facts like he did more than just attend a meeting where someone brought it up?
Posted by: GOP Voter | Dec 5, 2007 11:11:41 PM
I am from Arkansas and a Christian Republican. I am so grateful to ABC for finally reporting on how bad Huckabee was for Arkansas. He raised our taxes, repealed our sentencing laws, allowed our state to become a sanctuary state, and was the most unethical governor in our history (and that's saying something).
EVERYBODY in Arkansas knows that Huckabee arranged for Dumond to go free and the rumor is that he did so because he got a sizeable contribution from a relative.
I am beggin you Christians out there to look more closely at this guy, We all jumped on board with him and he was the BIGGEST dissapointment. He even began attacking us and calling us racist and mean spirited, etc...
Posted by: Arkansas Truth teller | Dec 5, 2007 11:19:31 PM
Why doesn't Huckabee take so responsiblity for his actions. We all know that people in positions of authority don't have to say or do much to get results. Look at president Bush and his oppression of religious freedom.
Own up Mike and maybe you'll get some respect, but I doubt it.
Posted by: Andrea | Dec 5, 2007 11:24:30 PM
It is time for Mike Huckabee to step down. He cannot be our President. It is scary. Governor is equivalent to President, and he failed as a Governor
Posted by: sy | Dec 5, 2007 11:45:32 PM
Disgusting. As far as I'm concerned, Huckabee has blood on his hands.
Posted by: Randy | Dec 5, 2007 11:45:33 PM
If you people got you news from organizations that actually researched before going to print you would know these facts: (old facts, a story from 2002 and the people of Arkansas knew the facts and re-elected the Governer)
Truth: Governor Huckabee did not pardon Dumond. He never took action in the DuMond case that made him parole eligible. He either denied the clemency request, or took no action (which is the same as a denial) on four separate occasions.
He also did not parole Wayne Dumond for he had no authority to do that. Governors in Arkansas don't grant parole-the parole board does. The fact remains that Governor Huckabee didn't commutate, pardon, parole or grant any form of clemency to Wayne DuMond.
ABC News of course neglects tell you two important facts. First DuMond was only eligible for parole because Governor Jim Guy Tucker(D) had in 1992 reduced DuMond's sentence to 39 years. That would normally make DuMond eligible for parole in 1998. Second, Governor Huckabee apparently considered commuting DuMond's sentence but rejected it after a plea from the victim and her supporters.
Posted by: warren | Dec 6, 2007 12:00:24 AM
Wow. Read this article at the Huffington Post for much more detail on this story. If these assertions are true, and it is certainly convincing to me, then Huck is TOAST.
I don't think this one will fade, too much emotion, too many people willing to come forward. I don't think Huck's campaign knew that one of his aides had provided the victims letters to a reporter.
This makes Huckster UNELECTABLE, and should give people pause if they think someone would make a good POTUS just becuase they are a "good god-fearing man."
Posted by: Andy | Dec 6, 2007 12:31:26 AM
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