Tennessee Governor On Clemency For Cyntoia Brown: "We Want To Make Certain We're Treating Everybody Fairly In This
Source: PBS
Bill Haslam still has the opportunity to grant Cyntoia Brown clemency before his tenure as governor is up.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam recently told a local news source that he doesn't have a timeline on a decision for Cyntoia Brown's case. The Tennessee Supreme Court recently ruled that Brown has to serve 51 years in prison before she's eleigible for release.
"The Cyntoia case has gotten a lot of publicity understandably, but again we want to make certain we're treating everybody fairly in this," Haslam told WSMV News 4. "And so, we're doing our homework on a multitude of cases."
Haslam also told the news station that he will rollout decisions on a handful of cases in review "starting possibly this week."
Previously, Haslam was confronted by Nashville Black Lives Matter activists at an event for education in regards to granting clemency for Brown.
"…why has Cyntoia Brown been incarcerated for 14 years for enduring harm?" Justin Lang, a member of the group, said to Brown. "And so I say, Governor Haslam, you have the power and ability to grant clemency to Cyntoia Brown, and so I ask when will you grant her clemency, I ask what will be your legacy as you leave office, and how will you answer to this human rights violation that the state of Tennessee is committing by keeping her incarcerated?"
A handful of celebrities have also requested that Haslam grant Brown clemency including Meek Mill, Kerry Washington, Amy Schumer and others.
Source: WSMV
