Topeka — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback issued his first pardon as governor Tuesday when he granted executive clemency to a man convicted of theft in 1994. He also denied 72 other requests for clemency.
Mark Schmitt, a native of Liberal who now lives in Parker, Colo., was convicted in Franklin County at age 19 for filing a false insurance claim amounting to $1,551.64. He was a college student living in Ottawa at the time.
He was ordered to pay restitution and was sentenced to probation, and he has maintained a clean record ever since, according to a press release from Brownback's office.
“This request for clemency was unanimously supported at all levels of the process," Brownback said in the news release. "He has demonstrated he is a man of character, having already paid his debt to society, having had his criminal record expunged, and having worked through the process of requesting a pardon, and proving the worthiness of his request at every step.”
Tuesday's announcement came amid great anticipation after his office tweeted that it involved something "unprecedented for a Republican governor in recent Kansas political memory."
Brownback is expected to resign from office soon, once he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom in the Trump administration. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on his nomination last week but has not yet voted to recommend him to the full Senate.
Comments
Richard Heckler 8 months, 1 week ago
Gov Brownback still awaiting confirmation?
For a man who loves tax breaks for the wealthy because taxes are evil he certainly has not gone out on his own for more than two decades. Taxes are evil yet he loves those tax dollar paid paid positions.
Does Gov Sam Brownback pay taxes?
Richard Heckler 8 months, 1 week ago
What do we know about Gov Brownback and his ALEC Party?
ALEC IS NOT LESS GOVERNMENT. ALEC IS THE BIGGEST INTRUSION OF GOVERNMENT EVER!
The ALEC/Fundamentalist Platform Ultra Conservatives MUST Adhere to NO matter the rhetoric played to voters.
Like it or not we need to stop voting the republican ticket because ultra conservatives took over our party through unethical methods. Big reckless spending and monster lies.
BIG DOLLAR ALEC DARK MONEY TRAIL IS EVERYWHERE.
The ALEC War ON America:
--- War against Medical Insurance and Single Payer
--- War on public education and Higher Education
--- War against women
--- War on Voters Rights
--- War on strict gun regulations
--- War On National Monuments/Parks
--- War On Environmental Cleanliness
--- War On Good Wages aka Right To Work Legislation
--- War On USA Jobs aka Free Trade Agreements and Leveraged Buyout Scams
--- War On Social Security Insurance
--- War On Medicaid
--- War On Medicare
--- War for Oil Control Worldwide
--- War on truth about global warming/climate change http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2010/03/30/174616/koch-denial-machine/
Union of Concerned Scientists http://www.ucsusa.org
Corporate Welfare Profiteering http://www.rightwingwatch.org/report/alec-the-voice-of-corporate-special-interests-in-state-legislatures/#Voter
Bill Moyers on the Secretive Corporate-Legislative Body Writing Our Laws http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/27/the_united_states_of_alec_bill
=== Pay close attention to this 24/7 organized activity: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/01/koch-brothers-candidate-training-recruiting-aegis-strategic
--- How the Koch brothers helped dismantle the Democratic Party https://samsmitharchives.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/6467/
Dorothy Hoyt-Reed 8 months, 1 week ago
He's trying to get out of the state before we start putting his girlfriend, who runs DCF and his privatized buddies who are paid to take care of our foster children in prison for "losing" 70 kids. If he is in DC kowtowing to Trump, Trump will keep him out of prison.
Richard Aronoff 8 months, 1 week ago
Do you suppose the two of you could try to not live up to my expectations?
Commenting has been disabled for this item.