Our state legislature changed the law and gave prosecutors the power to go to court and ask a judge to release someone who was wrongfully convicted. A Missouri prosecutor brought in former judges to look into Christopher's case, and they went to court to ask a judge to give Christopher his freedom.
Then came Andrew Bailey.
While Attorney General Bailey was professing his disapproval of a jury verdict in New York, he was using taxpayer resources in a Missouri court to fight to keep Christopher Dunn behind bars.
It's not the first time that Missourians have had to foot the bill to prevent justice. He also fought to keep Lamar Johnson in prison after Lamar spent 28 years there on a wrongful conviction. And Bailey's predecessor did the same against Kevin Strickland who lost over 40 years of his life. It's Bailey's policy to oppose the release of innocent Missourians.
I will end that practice.
As Attorney General, I will start Missouri's first Civil Rights Division to protect our civil liberties. I will work with prosecutors throughout Missouri to ensure that people who are in prison are supposed to be there. When someone is wrongfully convicted, I will fight for their freedom. And I will stop the irresponsible, immoral, and wasteful practices our current Attorney General has put in place under all of our names.
I agree with the Attorney General that we need to do something about illegal convictions. I just think we should start with the ones he's permitting right here at home.
