Clemency Order Void

The governor said it was a power play for publicity, but the attorney general says there were valid points in the lawsuit filed by the Saline county prosecutor to deny Don Jeffers clemency. Today the attorney general finalized plans to void the clemency order issued for Jeffers in January. Mike Beebe said the department of corrections failed to file paperwork correctly in the case, breaking state law. Jeffers confessed to the beating death of William Hash in July of 1980. He opted for life in prison to avoid having to face the death penalty. Throughout his pursuit of clemency, his granddaughter, Brandie Jones, says she was never notified of the proceedings or her right to speak against his release. Jones also said the Governor ignored her attempts to contact him and make her feelings known. This decision to void the clemency avoids trial which means Prosecutor Robert Herzfeld won`t get to probe what he believes were the Governor`s mistakes in this process. Herzfeld`s maintained the governor missed deadlines for granting the clemency and did not provide the reasons for it on his proclamation as required by law. The governor has always said this case is just about a prosecutor trying to make a name for himself.