Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing backlash over his role on the state Board of Pardons, which granted clemency to Tou Lue Vang, a man convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl more than two decades ago. The board included Ellison, Gov. Tim Walz and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson.
The pardon drew national criticism, particularly because Vang had faced deportation. The victim, now an adult, had written to the board supporting the pardon, saying she believed he had changed and wanted him to remain with his family.
Vang was later deported to Laos after the Trump administration revoked his legal status. Ellison's office said the pardon removed the underlying state conviction that had been part of the deportation proceedings.