Minnesota Pardons Sexual Abuser Who Was Set to Be Deported

[RandySF]

A three-person Minnesota panel including Gov. Tim Walz granted a pardon to an immigrant convicted of sexually abusing a child, drawing accusations that he and other Democrats are impeding federal efforts to expel dangerous foreign criminals eligible for deportation.

The Minnesota Board of Pardons granted the reprieve on June 10 to Tou Lue Vang, 42, who came to the United States as a child and was set to be deported to Laos imminently. Mr. Vang had submitted a letter to the board expressing regret for the actions that led to his 2005 conviction, and said a pardon could help him stay in the country with his wife and six children.

Mr. Vang’s victim, who was 10 when the abuse began, also submitted a letter supporting the pardon. Mr. Vang pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea deal that spared him from serving time in prison.

The pardon effectively wiped clean Mr. Vang’s criminal record, providing him an avenue to fight deportation.



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/politics/minnesota-pardon-sexual-abuser.html

[mwmisses4289]

1. Did they call paxton for advice?

[exboyfil]

2. Why would he do this?

Anyone that does that to a child doesn't deserve any breaks. He served his time, but he doesn't deserve a pardon. Frankly he should have been deported after serving his sentence.

He was in his 20s. The victim was 10-12. The abuse was ongoing for a number of years. F__k him. Walz you made a fatal political mistake.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. .

Anyone that does that to a child doesn't deserve any breaks. He served his time, but he doesn't deserve a pardon. Frankly he should have been deported after serving his sentence.

He didn't serve any time. He made a plea deal in 2005 that did not include incarceration.

He was in his 20s. The victim was 10-12. The abuse was ongoing for a number of years. F__k him.

The victim wrote a letter supporting clemency, as did other letters from the community. Mr. Vang has been living in the community without reported issue for more than 20 years.

Walz you made a fatal political mistake.

Don't worry, the board denied clemency to another person who will likely be sent back to Laos. And the pardon doesn't mean Mr. Vang is in the clear, as we learned earlier this year.

[exboyfil]

4. How much autonomy do you think the victim had in writing this letter?

It sounded like a family abuse situation.


I really don't care whether he is deported or not, but I don't like the idea of giving a pardon to anyone who did that to a child. It is even more infuriating that he never served any time, but what is done is done. Possibly it was part of the plea deal because getting victim testimony in those cases is difficult.

In context a teacher who did that to an under 13 or so just got 33 years. Maybe too harsh but it sure beats no time at all.

A woman who is significant in my life went through that hell as a 2nd grader. She has never been the person she could have been because of it, and the damage lingers 50 years later. F___k any abuser.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. .

How much autonomy do you think the victim had in writing this letter? It sounded like a family abuse situation.

Most crimes like this are indeed family/friend abuse situations. I think there was probably a lot more pressure back when the victim was a child; their non-cooperation at the time is indeed what made the plea deal necessary for the prosecution. But the victim is now around 30 and, in their own words, says they've made their peace with the situation and they forgive Mr. Vang. All we can do is take them at their word.

A woman who is significant in my life went through that hell as a 2nd grader. She has never been the person she could have been because of it, and the damage lingers 50 years later. F___k any abuser.

I am sorry someone hurt your friend and that she still suffers.