Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Defends Pardon of Convicted Sex Offender

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 minor. Vang, 42, received a pardon from Minnesota's Board of Pardons on June 10, prior to his deportation announced by the Trump administration. Walz questioned the effectiveness of the deportation, asking if it improved safety for children or stability for communities. He emphasized that the pardon was not related to immigration policy, as the Board had denied clemency to other applicants facing similar issues. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Vang's deportation was necessary to protect Americans from foreign sex offenders. The pardon has faced criticism from federal officials and Republican lawmakers, although Walz noted that the victim supported the pardon.