Kaine says he knows no reason to change sniper’s death sentence

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday that he has not yet received a petition seeking clemency for convicted Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad and has seen no evidence that would suggest he should receive a stay of execution.

“I know of nothing in this case now that would suggest that there is any credible claim of innocence or that there was anything procedurally wrong with the prosecution,“ said Kaine, speaking on his monthly call-in radio program on WTOP in Washington.

“So I would know of no reason why clemency would be granted in this case.“

Muhammad is scheduled to be executed Nov. 10 for the slaying of Dean Meyers in Prince William County. Meyers was one of 10 people shot to death during a three-week rampage in October 2002 that stretched from Maryland to Ashland.

Muhammad lawyer Jonathon Sheldon has said Muhammad will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and ask the governor for clemency. Muhammad’s accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, is serving life in prison without parole.

Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, also said that stories of the White House telling New York Gov. David Paterson to pull out of next year’s race for governor to clear the way for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo were “grossly oversold.“

Kaine, a close ally of President Barack Obama, said he was not involved in any discussions between the White House and Paterson, nor was he aware that they had taken place.

But he did say that the White House is “a performance-based organization” that would likely have frank conversations with Paterson about his prospects to stay in office.

Kaine said that he would have run for re-election if Virginia allowed its governors to serve consecutive 4-year terms. Virginia is the only state that does not allow consecutive terms.

Kaine said that not allowing Virginia governors a second term makes it hard for anyone in the office to “build up momentum toward long-term improvements” in the state.

Kaine said he thought he would do “fine” if he ran again, but said he is focused on helping to elect Democrat R. Creigh Deeds to the job.

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or

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