EKB News

House Speaker Jodi Richards said today that a constitutional amendment limiting the governor's power to issue pardons might be considered in the upcoming legislative session. Richards said Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, abused his power when he issued blanket pardons in August 2005 for anyone except himself who could be charged in an investigation of state hiring practices. Although a grand jury issued 29 indictments in the probe - including one against Fletcher - no one was convicted. The charges against Fletcher were dropped in a deal with prosecutors. Fletcher, who has maintained the investigation was politically motivated, said those who want to re-examine gubernatorial pardon power "have to realize that these things are in place for reasons that may occur such as prosecutorial abuse."