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Tim Walz defends Minnesota pardon of sex offender deported to Laos
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz defended his vote to pardon Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a 10-year-old girl, despite Vang being deported to Laos after losing legal status.
- Vang received a pardon from Minnesota's Board of Pardons on June 10, but the Trump administration revoked his legal status and deported him last week, prompting criticism from federal officials and Republican lawmakers.
- Walz questioned the effectiveness of the deportation in enhancing public safety and emphasized that the pardon was not about immigration policy, noting other clemency requests with immigration consequences were denied.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the pardon and deported Vang, stating that Americans should not fear foreign sex predators shielded by elected officials, and praised the termination of Vang's legal status.
- The pardon decision was controversial, with Homeland Security officials labeling it "disgusting," while Walz cited the victim's support for the pardon and other factors in his defense.
