Few Pardoned In Pawlenty Era Go On To Re-Offend

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A check of pardons granted during Gov. Tim Pawlenty's two terms suggests he's unlikely to face new problems on the issue.

Pawlenty recently found himself explaining why he and two other members of a parole board pardoned a sex offender two years ago. It became an issue when new charges were brought against the man.

An Associated Press review of the 115 other people pardoned during Pawlenty's two terms found that none has been charged in Minnesota with a major crime since their pardon.

Clemency decisions have come back to haunt some other presidential hopefuls. Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, was attacked on the issue during his 2008 run.

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