Pardon for Convicted Sex Offender Sparks Outcry | Duluth News

Minnesota’s governor and attorney general have pardoned Tou Lue Vang, a man convicted in 2005 of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl over two and a half years — a crime he admitted to and even commented on cultural norms around age. Though he never served prison time, receiving a 12-year stayed sentence and 30-year probation, the pardon has ignited fierce debate. Critics argue it erases justice, especially since the victim reportedly supported the pardon — though her letter wasn’t made public. Vang, a refugee from Laos who lost his residency after conviction and was ordered deported, has remained in the U.S. for nearly 20 years due to Laos’s refusal to accept him. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security strongly opposes the pardon, warning it could block his removal — a move that allows him to stay with his family, sparking outrage over public safety and the limits of clemency. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7d7a4a9ecaf44258