Gov. Plays Politics With Innocent Man's Execution

It's certainly starting to look like Texas Governor Rick Perry will do anything to protect his political future -- including covering up the execution of an innocent man. The man is Cameron Todd Willingham, and he was executed in 2004 while Rick Perry was the Texas governor.

Mr. Willingham was convicted of setting a house fire that caused the death of his three children. But as I wrote back in August, there have been three separate investigations since his conviction and nine of the nations top fire scientists have examined the evidence. They all reach the same conclusion -- there was no evidence of arson! The conclusions said that the original fire marshal used "outdated theories and folklore" to reach the conclusion that there was arson.

The last investigation was ordered by the Texas Forensic Science Commission (TFSC). They were to meet today to discuss the findings of that investigation and then issue a report on the case. It was widely expected the commission report would determine that the forensic science used to get the conviction was faulty, and that Texas had executed an innocent man. It would have been the first time an official state agency had admitted an innocent man was executed.

But Perry was having none of it. Earlier this month, Perry derided the top fire scientists as "supposed experts" and said he was sure Willingham was guilty. Perry has another election coming up soon, and he's not about to admit an innocent man was executed during his reign as governor -- and he's not about to let a state commission reach that conclusion either.

Just a couple of days before the TFSC was to meet and consider the case, Perry informed three of the commission members that their services were no longer needed. He has replaced two of them, including the commission chairman (and must wait for a recommendation from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association before he can replace the third).

Of course, that means the commission will not consider the results of the investigation at this time. The new chairman, Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, said "I don't see how we can successfully have a meeting with the board turnover and lack of time for an orientation and education for the new board members."

The investigation (and report) have been delayed indefinitely. I don't think I'm going out on a limb to predict it won't happen before next year's election.