Mike Huckabee: Criticism of Commuted Sentence 'Disgusting'

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee struck back against criticism of a commuted sentence that set free a man who allegedly killed four Seattle police offers Sunday. In 2000, Huckabee commuted the life sentence of Maurice Clemmons, 37, who was killed by law enforcement officers in a gun battle on Monday. After the commuted sentence drew political attention, Huckabee, who was widely believed to be considering a 2012 presidential run, said the criticism of his record was "disgusting."

"It really does show how sick our society has become that people are more concerned about a campaign three years from now than those grieving families in Washington," Huckabee said during an interview on Joe Scarborough's radio show. "It is disgusting, but people use anything as a political weapon."

Huckabee's critics included his potential presidential opponent, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who said he has a policy of never pardoning anyone. "I don't think I've ever voted for clemency," Pawlenty told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham. "We've given out pardons for things after everybody has served out their term, but again, usually for more minor offenses. But clemency? Certainly not. Commutation of sentence? Certainly not."