[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]
>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. >>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME. WELCOME. IM MEGYN KELLY.
WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A REMARKABLE WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A REMARKABLE
UPDATE ON A STORY WE BROUGHT YOU UPDATE ON A STORY WE BROUGHT YOU TWO WEEKS AGO. TWO WEEKS AGO. WE INTRODUCED YOU THEN TO KENT
WHITAKER, A FATHER WHO MADE IT WHITAKER, A FATHER WHO MADE IT
HIS LIFES MISSION TO HAVE HIS HIS LIFES MISSION TO HAVE HIS
SONS DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO SONS DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO
LIFE IN PRISON. LIFE IN PRISON.
WHAT MADE HIS STORY SO WHAT MADE HIS STORY SO
INCREDIBLE IS THAT HIS SON, INCREDIBLE IS THAT HIS SON, BART, IS IN BRITAIN FOR BART, IS IN BRITAIN FOR ORCHESTRATING THE MURDERS OF
KENTS WIFE AND OTHER SON. OF KENTS WIFE AND OTHER SON.
HE WAS GRAVELY INJURED IN THAT HE WAS GRAVELY INJURED IN THAT ATTACK. ATTACK. HOWEVER, LYING IN HIS HOSPITAL HOWEVER, LYING IN HIS HOSPITAL BED, RECOVERING FROM THOSE BED, RECOVERING FROM THOSE GUNSHOT WOUNDS, KENT TURNED TO GUNSHOT WOUNDS, KENT TURNED TO HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH AND VOWED IN
THE MOMENT TO FORGIVE WHOEVER IN THE MOMENT TO FORGIVE WHOEVER
HAD KILLED HIS FAMILY. HAD KILLED HIS FAMILY.
MONTHS LATER, HE WOULD LEARN THE MONTHS LATER, HE WOULD LEARN THE
AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT WHO IT WAS. AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT WHO IT WAS.
TEXAS BOARD OF PARDONS AND TEXAS BOARD OF PARDONS AND
PAROLES WAS ASKED, KENT BEGGED PAROLES WAS ASKED, KENT BEGGED THEM, TO SPARE BARTS LIFE. THEM, TO SPARE BARTS LIFE. ARGUING THAT AS THE ONLY
SURVIVING VICTIM, KENT WOULD BE SURVIVING VICTIM, KENT WOULD BE
VICTIMIZED BY HAVING HIS ONLY VICTIMIZED BY HAVING HIS ONLY
SURVIVING RELATIVE TAKEN FROM SURVIVING RELATIVE TAKEN FROM
HIM. HIM. ON TUESDAY, IN A RARE MOVE, THE ON TUESDAY, IN A RARE MOVE, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO
RECOMMEND A LIGHTER SENTENCE, RECOMMEND A LIGHTER SENTENCE,
BUT THE FINAL DECISION WOULD BE BUT THE FINAL DECISION WOULD BE
MADE BY TEXAS GOVERNOR, GREG MADE BY TEXAS GOVERNOR, GREG
ABBOTT, WHO ALL DAY LONG SAID ABBOTT, WHO ALL DAY LONG SAID
NOTHING YESTERDAY. NOTHING YESTERDAY.
THEN, LESS THAN AN HOUR BEFORE THEN, LESS THAN AN HOUR BEFORE
BART WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PUT TO BART WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PUT TO
DEATH BY LETHAL INJECTION, WORD DEATH BY LETHAL INJECTION, WORD
CAME THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAD CAME THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAD
COMMUTED BARTS SENTENCE TO LIFE COMMUTED BARTS SENTENCE TO LIFE
IN PRISON. IN PRISON.
THE FIRST DEATH SENTENCE THE FIRST DEATH SENTENCE
GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS EVER GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS EVER
OVERTURNED IN HIS THREE YEARS IN OVERTURNED IN HIS THREE YEARS IN
OFFICE. OFFICE. 30 TIMES HES BEEN ASKED, 30
TIMES HE SAID NO. ASKED, 30 TIMES HE SAID NO.
THIS IS THE ONE CASE HE MADE AN THIS IS THE ONE CASE HE MADE AN
EXCEPTION FOR. EXCEPTION FOR.
THE FATHER, KENT, SPOKE OUT JUST THE FATHER, KENT, SPOKE OUT JUST
AFTER LEARNING THE NEWS. AFTER LEARNING THE NEWS. >> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE, OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE WHO HAVE, OVER THE WORLD,
LITERALLY, WHO HAVE PRAYED FOR LITERALLY, WHO HAVE PRAYED FOR
THIS. THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT GODS HAND WAS ON I BELIEVE THAT GODS HAND WAS ON
THIS. THIS. I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO EXPLAIN A 7-0 VOTE IN THE PAROLE
BOARD WITHOUT HAVING SOME PAROLE BOARD WITHOUT HAVING SOME
SERIOUS WHISPERS FROM GOD INTO SERIOUS WHISPERS FROM GOD INTO
EARS. EARS. AND I THANK ALL OF THOSE PRAYERS
FOR THAT.NK ALL OF THOSE PRAYERS FOR THAT. >> WERE JOINED, NOW, BY KENT
WHITAKER AND HIS WIFE, TANYA, IN WHITAKER AND HIS WIFE, TANYA, IN
A "MEGYN KELLY TODAY" EXCLUSIVE. A "MEGYN KELLY TODAY" EXCLUSIVE.
WELCOME TO YOU BOTH. WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.
IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, KENT. IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, KENT.
IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, AND YOU, IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, AND YOU,
TOO, TONYA. TOO, TONYA.
TELL US ABOUT THIS NEWS. TELL US ABOUT THIS NEWS.
>> YESTERDAY, PEOPLE USED THE >> YESTERDAY, PEOPLE USED THE
WORD BIZARRE. WORD BIZARRE.
I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE
LIKE IT. LIKE IT. WE STARTED THE DAY NOT KNOWING
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.OWING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
BELIEVING THAT GOVERNOR GREG BELIEVING THAT GOVERNOR GREG
ABBOTT WOULD COMMUTE THE ABBOTT WOULD COMMUTE THE
SENTENCE. SENTENCE. BUT NOT KNOWING, WE DROVE TO THE BUT NOT KNOWING, WE DROVE TO THE PRISON FOR WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
OUR LAST VISIT, A TWO-HOUR BEEN OUR LAST VISIT, A TWO-HOUR
VISIT, TONYA AND I. VISIT, TONYA AND I.
WE STARTED THE VISIT KIND OF WE STARTED THE VISIT KIND OF
UPBEAT, EXPECTING THERE TO BE A UPBEAT, EXPECTING THERE TO BE A
NOTIFICATION AT ANY MOMENT. NOTIFICATION AT ANY MOMENT.
BUT NOTHING CAME. BUT NOTHING CAME.
AS THE VISIT WORE ON, IT BECAME AS THE VISIT WORE ON, IT BECAME
MORE AND MORE OBVIOUS THAT ONE MORE AND MORE OBVIOUS THAT ONE
WASNT GOING TO COME. WASNT GOING TO COME.
AT THE TIME THE VISIT ENDED AT AT THE TIME THE VISIT ENDED AT
NOON, WE WERE AWARE THAT THIS NOON, WE WERE AWARE THAT THIS
MAY BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO MAY BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE EACH OTHER. SEE EACH OTHER.
IT WAS EXTREMELY SAD. IT WAS EXTREMELY SAD.
WE TOUCHED THE GLASS WITH OUR WE TOUCHED THE GLASS WITH OUR
HANDS AND SAID GOOD-BYE. HANDS AND SAID GOOD-BYE.
AND WE LEFT AND DROVE TO AND WE LEFT AND DROVE TO
HUNTSVILLE WHERE THE EXECUTION HUNTSVILLE WHERE THE EXECUTION
WOULD TAKE PLACE. WOULD TAKE PLACE. AND HE WAS TAKEN BY A FIVE-CAR
PARADE TO HUNTSVILLE TO BE-CAR PARADE TO HUNTSVILLE TO BE
PREPARED FOR THE EXECUTION. PREPARED FOR THE EXECUTION.
>> AT THAT POINT, KENT, YOU WERE >> AT THAT POINT, KENT, YOU WERE
FULLY PREPARING, AS YOU TOLD ME FULLY PREPARING, AS YOU TOLD ME
TWO WEEKS AGO, TO SIT AND BEAR TWO WEEKS AGO, TO SIT AND BEAR
WITNESS TO YOUR SONS EXECUTION WITNESS TO YOUR SONS EXECUTION
BY LETHAL INJECTION. BY LETHAL INJECTION.
>> YES, WE WERE. >> YES, WE WERE.
WE WENT TO A HOME, REALLY, ONE WE WENT TO A HOME, REALLY, ONE
OF THE CHURCHES IN THE OF THE CHURCHES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD -- OR IN THE CITY, NEIGHBORHOOD -- OR IN THE CITY,
PREPARES FOR FAMILIES OF MEN WHO PREPARES FOR FAMILIES OF MEN WHO
WILL BE PUT TO DEATH. WILL BE PUT TO DEATH.
AND WE WERE THERE FOR THREE AND WE WERE THERE FOR THREE
HOURS. HOURS.
AND THERE WAS A PREPARATION FOR AND THERE WAS A PREPARATION FOR
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE
IN THE DEATH CHAMBER. IN THE DEATH CHAMBER.
AN ORIENTATION OF SORTS. AN ORIENTATION OF SORTS.
WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO BART WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO BART
OVER THE PHONE FOR A WHILE. OVER THE PHONE FOR A WHILE.
AND, TANYA, YOU WANT TO TELL AND, TANYA, YOU WANT TO TELL
WHAT THAT LAST PHONE CALL WAS WHAT THAT LAST PHONE CALL WAS
LIKE? LIKE? >> SO PAINFUL. >> SO PAINFUL. THEY CUT THE PHONE OFF AT 5:00.
AND SO, THE TIMES TICKING AWAY. AND SO, THE TIMES TICKING AWAY.
ITS SO SILENT IN THERE. ITS SO SILENT IN THERE.
FINALLY, ABOUT 4:55, WE SAID, FINALLY, ABOUT 4:55, WE SAID,
OKAY, WERE GOING TO SAY OKAY, WERE GOING TO SAY GOOD-BYE NOW.
WE TOLD HIM HOW MUCH WE LOVE WE TOLD HIM HOW MUCH WE LOVE
HIM, HOW MUCH GOD LOVES HIM. HIM, HOW MUCH GOD LOVES HIM.
AND WE WERE CONTINUING TO PRAY AND WE WERE CONTINUING TO PRAY
UNTIL THE MINUTE AT 5:00, THEY UNTIL THE MINUTE AT 5:00, THEY
CUT IT OFF. CUT IT OFF.
THEY TAKE YOU OVER NEAR THE THEY TAKE YOU OVER NEAR THE
DEATH CHAMBER TO BE PREPARED DEATH CHAMBER TO BE PREPARED
FROM THE ORIENTATION. FROM THE ORIENTATION.
>> OH, MY. >> OH, MY.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT THE WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT THE
NEWS THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAD, NEWS THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAD,
INDEED, ISSUED THE COMMUTATION? INDEED, ISSUED THE COMMUTATION?
>> I HAD, ALWAYS FROM THE VERY >> I HAD, ALWAYS FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, PLANNED TO BE IN THE BEGINNING, PLANNED TO BE IN THE
OBSERVATION ROOM FOR MY SON, SO OBSERVATION ROOM FOR MY SON, SO
HE WOULD KNOW THAT SOMEBODY HE WOULD KNOW THAT SOMEBODY
LOVED HIM AND CARED AND LOVED HIM AND CARED AND
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WAS THERE. ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WAS THERE.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS,
IVE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WHO IVE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
WITNESSED THESE TELL ME OVER AND WITNESSED THESE TELL ME OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, YOU SHOULDNT BE OVER AGAIN, YOU SHOULDNT BE
THERE. THERE.
YOU DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE YOUR YOU DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE YOUR
LAST MEMORY OF YOUR SON. LAST MEMORY OF YOUR SON.
AND ALL ALONG, I EXPECTED TO BE AND ALL ALONG, I EXPECTED TO BE
THERE. THERE. BUT YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON, TANYA CONVINCED ME IT AFTERNOON, TANYA CONVINCED ME IT
WOULD BE BEST IF I STAYED IN THE WOULD BE BEST IF I STAYED IN THE
HOSPITALITY HOUSE AND THAT SHE HOSPITALITY HOUSE AND THAT SHE
WOULD REPRESENT US. WOULD REPRESENT US.
AND SHE WOULD GO OVER THERE AND AND SHE WOULD GO OVER THERE AND
ADVOCATE FOR HIM, IF NECESSARY. ADVOCATE FOR HIM, IF NECESSARY.
>> SO, HOW DID YOU GET THE NEWS, >> SO, HOW DID YOU GET THE NEWS,
KENT? KENT? >> I GOT THE NEWS BY PHONE.
WE WERE PRAYING.S BY PHONE. WE WERE PRAYING.
THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN OF US THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN OF US
THERE. THERE. TANYA WAS NOT THERE.
SHE WAS OVER AT THE PRISON. SHE WAS OVER AT THE PRISON.
AND HEATH HAMPTON, OUR ATTORNEY, AND HEATH HAMPTON, OUR ATTORNEY,
PHONED AND TOLD ME THAT THE PHONED AND TOLD ME THAT THE
SENTENCE HAD BEEN COMMUTED. SENTENCE HAD BEEN COMMUTED.
I PUT THE PHONE ON SPEAKER AND I PUT THE PHONE ON SPEAKER AND
HELD IT UP AND SAID, KEITH, HELD IT UP AND SAID, KEITH,
WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT? WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT?
WHEN HE DID, THE WHOLE ROOM JUST WHEN HE DID, THE WHOLE ROOM JUST
BURST INTO CHEERS. BURST INTO CHEERS.
HUGE RELIEF. HUGE RELIEF. HUGE RELIEF. HUGE RELIEF. THERE WAS ANOTHER CELEBRATION
WHEN TANYA AND ANOTHER LADY WHO WHEN TANYA AND ANOTHER LADY WHO
HAD GONE OVER TO WITNESS THE HAD GONE OVER TO WITNESS THE
EXECUTION RETURNED TO THE HOUSE. EXECUTION RETURNED TO THE HOUSE.
IT WAS AN AMAZING CELEBRATION. IT WAS AN AMAZING CELEBRATION.
WE JUST -- IT WAS A VINDICATION WE JUST -- IT WAS A VINDICATION
OF A LOT OF HARD WORK ON A LOT OF A LOT OF HARD WORK ON A LOT
OF PEOPLES PART. OF PEOPLES PART.
>> THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, >> THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE,
YOU TOLD ME AFTER BART HAD BEEN YOU TOLD ME AFTER BART HAD BEEN
FOUND GUILTY, YOU GOT ON YOUR FOUND GUILTY, YOU GOT ON YOUR
KNEES AND BEGGED THE PROSECUTOR KNEES AND BEGGED THE PROSECUTOR
NOT TO PUSH FOR DEATH PENALTY. NOT TO PUSH FOR DEATH PENALTY.
YOU, AS THE ONLY SURVIVING RICK YOU, AS THE ONLY SURVIVING RICK
TIM TIM VICTIM. VICTIM. WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT YOUR
DECEASE WIFES FAMILY, TRICIAS DECEASE WIFES FAMILY, TRICIAS
FAMILY, DIDNT WANT TO SEE HIM FAMILY, DIDNT WANT TO SEE HIM
EXECUTED. EXECUTED. TEXAS IS A VICTIMS RIGHT STATE. TEXAS IS A VICTIMS RIGHT STATE. THE VICTIMS DID NOT WANT
EXECUTION.S DID NOT WANT EXECUTION. THE D.A. PUSHED FOR IT.
HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK WITH BART YET? SPEAK WITH BART YET?
>> NOT SINCE THE COMMUTATION >> NOT SINCE THE COMMUTATION
CAME DOWN. CAME DOWN.
WE WONT GET A CHANCE FOR FOR A WE WONT GET A CHANCE FOR FOR A
WHILE. WHILE. WE DONT KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL
TAKE.NT KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE. HE WILL BE REPROCESSED AND SENT
TO A DIFFERENT UNIT.ED AND SENT TO A DIFFERENT UNIT.
HE WILL FIND OUT WHEN THAT WILL HE WILL FIND OUT WHEN THAT WILL
HAPPEN. HAPPEN. >> WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM BART >> WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM BART THAT WAS ISSUED TO THE PRISON
OFFICIALS.SSUED TO THE PRISON OFFICIALS. AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. "IM THANKFUL FOR THE DECISION, "IM THANKFUL FOR THE DECISION, NOT FOR ME, BUT FOR MY DAD.
WHATEVER PUNISHMENT I MIGHT HAVE WHATEVER PUNISHMENT I MIGHT HAVE
RECEIVED OR WILL RECEIVE, WILL RECEIVED OR WILL RECEIVE, WILL
BE JUST. BE JUST.
I DESERVE PUNISHMENT FOR MY I DESERVE PUNISHMENT FOR MY
CRIMES. CRIMES. BUT MY DAD DID NOTHING WRONG.
THE SYSTEM WORKED FOR HIM TODAY THE SYSTEM WORKED FOR HIM TODAY
AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO UPHOLD AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO UPHOLD
MY END OF THE BJOERGENORG BARGAI MY END OF THE BJOERGENORG BARGAI
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY, KENT, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY, KENT,
TO BART? TO BART? >> THIS IS A DAY OF GREAT HOPE.
HES BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE. HES BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE
ON LIFE. ON LIFE. AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART
THAT HES GOING TO TAKE THAT AND THAT HES GOING TO TAKE THAT AND
USE IT. USE IT.
AND WHEN WE MEET AGAIN SOME TIME AND WHEN WE MEET AGAIN SOME TIME
IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL BE ABLE IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT HES ACCOMPLISHED IN THINGS THAT HES ACCOMPLISHED IN
GENERAL POPULATION THATS BEEN A GENERAL POPULATION THATS BEEN A
GREAT BENEFIT TO OTHERS BEHIND GREAT BENEFIT TO OTHERS BEHIND
BARS. BARS. IM EXCITED ABOUT IT. IM EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> HE HASNT HURT OTHER PEOPLE
BEHIND BARS.HURT OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND BARS. HE WAS NOT A CAREER CRIMINAL OR HE WAS NOT A CAREER CRIMINAL OR CRIMINAL AT ALL, PRIOR TO THIS CRIMINAL AT ALL, PRIOR TO THIS MURDER, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT MURDER, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN KENT WAS HERE LIVE, THAT WHEN KENT WAS HERE LIVE, THAT HIS SON HAD FALLEN INTO MENTAL
ILLNESS.HAD FALLEN INTO MENTAL ILLNESS. HE HAD MADE A TERRIBLE CHOICE. HE HAD MADE A TERRIBLE CHOICE. HE FELT CONFLICTED ABOUT THE MAN HE FELT CONFLICTED ABOUT THE MAN PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS, VERSUS PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS, VERSUS WHAT HE REALLY FELT HE WAS, IN WHAT HE REALLY FELT HE WAS, IN HIS MIND.
HE COULDNT BEAR THE DICHOTOMY HE COULDNT BEAR THE DICHOTOMY
BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS. BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.
WANT TO TELL THE AUDIENCE THAT WANT TO TELL THE AUDIENCE THAT
GOVERNOR ABBOTT IN HIS GOVERNOR ABBOTT IN HIS
STATEMENT, SAID THIS IS THE STATEMENT, SAID THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME HES COMMUTED A DEATH FIRST TIME HES COMMUTED A DEATH
SENTENCE AND FOLLOWED THE SENTENCE AND FOLLOWED THE
UNANIMOUS RULES SING OF THE TEXA UNANIMOUS RULES SING OF THE TEXA
PAROLE BOARD. PAROLE BOARD.
WHICH NEVER RECOMMENDS WHICH NEVER RECOMMENDS
COMMUTATIONS. COMMUTATIONS.
HE WAS FOLLOWING KENTS WISHES. HE WAS FOLLOWING KENTS WISHES.
HOWEVER, BART WILL GIVE UP ANY HOWEVER, BART WILL GIVE UP ANY
CHANCE AT PAROLE. CHANCE AT PAROLE.
THE GOVERNOR WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR WENT ON TO SAY THAT
MR. WHITAKERS FATHER, KENT, WHO MR. WHITAKERS FATHER, KENT, WHO
SURVIVED THE ATTEMPT ON HIS SURVIVED THE ATTEMPT ON HIS
LIFE, PASSIONATELY OPPOSES THE LIFE, PASSIONATELY OPPOSES THE
EXECUTION OF HIS SON. EXECUTION OF HIS SON.
HE SAYS HE WOULD BE VICTIMIZED HE SAYS HE WOULD BE VICTIMIZED
AGAIN IF THE STATE PUT TO DEATH AGAIN IF THE STATE PUT TO DEATH
HIS LAST REMAINING FAMILY HIS LAST REMAINING FAMILY
MEMBER. MEMBER.
YOUR FEELINGS TODAY, KENT? YOUR FEELINGS TODAY, KENT?
>> IM GRATEFUL TO HIM AND THE >> IM GRATEFUL TO HIM AND THE
PAROLE BOARD. PAROLE BOARD.
THEY ARE STRONG LAW AND ORDER. THEY ARE STRONG LAW AND ORDER.
THE WHOLE BOARD IS MADE UP OF THE WHOLE BOARD IS MADE UP OF
POLICEMEN. POLICEMEN. AND GREG ABBOTT WAS OUR ATTORNEY AND GREG ABBOTT WAS OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS WELL AS OTHER
THINGS., AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS. HE IS A LAW AND ORDER GUY. HE IS A LAW AND ORDER GUY. HE RECOGNIZED IN THIS CASE, THAT
THE COMMUTATION WAS THE PROPERAT THE COMMUTATION WAS THE PROPER
THING TO DO. THING TO DO.
WERE GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR MAKING WERE GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR MAKING
THAT HARD DECISION. THAT HARD DECISION.
I THINK ITS IMPORTANT TO I THINK ITS IMPORTANT TO
REALIZE THAT THE PAROLE BOARD REALIZE THAT THE PAROLE BOARD
LOOKS AT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER LOOKS AT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
TRIAL. TRIAL. IT DOESNT DIMINISH THE TRIAL OR IT DOESNT DIMINISH THE TRIAL OR THE JURORS IN ANY WAY.
THEY LOOKED AT 11 YEARS THAT THEY LOOKED AT 11 YEARS THAT
TRANSPIRED SINCE THE VERDICT TRANSPIRED SINCE THE VERDICT
CAME DOWN. CAME DOWN.
AND RECOGNIZED THERE WAS AND RECOGNIZED THERE WAS
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THIS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THIS
MAN HAD CHANGED AND THAT THE MAN HAD CHANGED AND THAT THE
RIGHT THING TO DO WAS TO COMMUTE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS TO COMMUTE
THE DEATH SENTENCE. THE DEATH SENTENCE.
FRANKLY, ALSO, TO HONOR MY FRANKLY, ALSO, TO HONOR MY
VICTIMS RIGHTS. VICTIMS RIGHTS.
>> IN A WORD, KENT, WHAT YOURE >> IN A WORD, KENT, WHAT YOURE
FEELING TODAY? FEELING TODAY? >> IM FEELING A GREAT SENSE OF >> IM FEELING A GREAT SENSE OF RELIEF AND HOPE. RELIEF AND HOPE. THIS IS A VERY HOPEFUL DAY, I THIS IS A VERY HOPEFUL DAY, I THINK. THINK. I KNOW THAT BART IS GOING TO I KNOW THAT BART IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND USE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND USE IT FOR POSITIVE GOOD.
>> ITS A STRANGE THING TO SAY >> ITS A STRANGE THING TO SAY
THAT YOU FEEL HAPPY FOR SOMEONE THAT YOU FEEL HAPPY FOR SOMEONE
WHOS BEING TOLD HIS SON WILL WHOS BEING TOLD HIS SON WILL
SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN
PRISON. PRISON. BUT GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVE, THIS BUT GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVE, THIS IS THE BEST YOU CAN HOPE FOR.
YOUVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCHOR. YOUVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH
ALREADY. ALREADY. THANK YOU, KEPT, AND TANYA, FOR
BEING WITH US TODAY. TANYA, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, MEGYN. >> THANK YOU, MEGYN.
IT WAS A GREAT BLESSING TO BE ON IT WAS A GREAT BLESSING TO BE ON
YOUR SHOW AND SHARE THIS AGAIN YOUR SHOW AND SHARE THIS AGAIN
WITH YOUR FAMILY. WITH YOUR FAMILY.
>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU. >> GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
