:50:01
Uh, I guess there are just...
:50:05
some things...
:50:07
can't be forgiven.
:50:09
Why not...
:50:12
if a person's able to change?
:50:15
'Cause the people doin' the
forgivin' have to change too.
:50:31
Today for the first time
in my term as Governor...
:50:34
in light of a number
of most-compelling reasons...
:50:37
I am granting clemency
in a capital case.
:50:44
I'm withdrawing my order of
execution for John Henry Reese...
:50:48
and commuting his sentence
to life imprisonment.
:50:52
- What about Liggett?
- There should be no mistake however...
- No.
:50:55
- That I remain a strong proponent
of the death penalty...
- Why?
:50:58
- And a firm believer of its place in our society.
- What the hell do you want, a religious conversion?
:51:02
- Wouldn't have hurt.
- And I know the people of this state...
:51:05
overwhelmingly agree with me.
:51:08
- There are, however...
- Look...
:51:10
- those rare occasions when
exceptions cry out.
- It's an issue of credibility.
:51:13
- And the rule of law...
- Whose credibility?
- Mine.
:51:15
Must acknowledge
extraordinary circumstances.
:51:19
- I'll take a few questions now.
- Governor.
- Governor.
:51:21
Governor, could you tell us
the compelling reasons
that prompted your decision...
:51:25
to commute
Mr Reese's sentence?
:51:28
- Mr Reese has gone as far as any prisoner I've ever seen...
- I stick my neck out, there better be a damn good reason.
:51:33
- Transforming himself into a thinking, contributing...
- I don't see it with Liggett. Maybe you do. I'm sorry.
:51:38
- This is about reelection, isn't it?
- Responsible and very unique voice.
:51:41
It's about getting
the black vote, isn't it?
:51:44
It's about clemency.
:51:47
Governor, what about
the Liggett case?
:51:50
Clemency was denied. Miss Liggett's
death warrant is set to be carried out...
:51:54
at 12.01 a.m. On Saturday,
one week from today.
:51:58
If it's carried out, Cindy Liggett will be
the first woman in 11 years...