Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Defends Pardon of Convicted Child Rapist

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz defended his vote to pardon Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national who was deported after losing legal status due to a conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a 10-year-old girl. Vang received the pardon from Minnesota's Board of Pardons on June 10, but was deported to Laos following a final removal order issued by federal authorities. Walz questioned the effectiveness of the deportation, asking if it made the community safer or improved the situation for children. He emphasized that the pardon was not related to immigration policy, noting that other applicants facing similar immigration consequences had been denied clemency. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Vang's deportation, stating that it was necessary to protect Americans from foreign sex offenders. The pardon has faced criticism from federal officials and Republican lawmakers, although Walz cited the victim's support for the pardon as a factor in the decision.