One of the democrats who hopes to be the next governor is defending his support for the death penalty. Secretary of State Chet Culver’s stance puts him at odds with many democrats — but he says it’s just one of the things he believes.
Culver says he’s not running to re-instate the death penalty — and it’s not a top priority on his list of things to do. Culver says though he can’t rule it out completely. He says he also the proud parent of two kids under the age of four-and-a-half and “I do believe that in the most heinous situations involving the most heinous crimes, that the death penalty is warranted. Culver says the abduction and murder of a child, the murder of a police officer, or terrorist attacks are crimes that should have the death penalty as an option.
He says if there’s due process and the use of D-N-A testing in place, then he believes the death penalty is warranted. Senate republicans brought up a death penalty bill this spring in the wake of the killing of a Cedar Rapids girl. Culver says he didn’t like that bill.
He says it didn’t include the due process provisions he outlined or the proof of innocence and D-N-A testing. Culver made his comments today (Friday) during taping of the Iowa Public TV program Iowa Press.