Both Commonwealth Attorney and County Attorney Associations Issue Statement On Bevin's Pardons: "An Absolute Insult To Crime Victims"

Commonwealth Attorney Blake Chambers and County Attorney Greg Vincent Say They Both Agree With The Statement

Darren Doyle, story:
Today, the Edmonson Voice received a joint statement from the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Association and the County Attorneys' Association. The statement read as follows:

"Matt Bevin's recent actions are an absolute insult to crime victims, their families, and the rule of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He should be ashamed. His arbitrary, callous, and, in at least one case, seemingly corrupt decision to pardon many violent felons on his way out of office was an abuse of his power. He substituted his questionable judgment over the collective wisdom of juries who heard the evidence, law enforcement officers who investigated the cases and prosecutors who sought justice for victims. The victims in these cases were ignored and silenced - victimized again by Matt Bevin. He owes them an apology, and his abuse of power should be investigated."

We reached out to both Commonwealth Attorney Blake Chambers and County Attorney Greg Vincent and asked each of them if they agreed with the released statement and both attorneys agreed.

According to the Louisville Courier Journal, Bevin issued 428 pardons and commutations since his narrow loss in November to Democrat Andy Beshear, who was sworn into office last Tuesday.

The beneficiaries include one offender convicted of raping a child, another who hired a hit man to kill his business partner,  and a third who killed his parents, the Louisville Courier Journal said.