Ex-Florida Clemency Board Member Advocates for Michael Edwards' Release

The Case of Michael Edwards

• 💡 Michael Edwards was sentenced to 60 years in prison in 1993 for selling a spoonful of cocaine to an ex-girlfriend who was a police informant.
• ⚠️ The informant later admitted to lying, but Edwards, believing he would be acquitted, rejected plea deals of nine and 15 years.
• ⚖️ Despite being a nonviolent offender and an addict, his conviction triggered Florida's "three strikes" law, leading to the maximum sentence.

Incarceration and Clemency Efforts

• ⏳ Edwards has served 31 years as a model prisoner but is not eligible for release until 2037, at which point he will be 74.
• 💰 Taxpayers have borne the cost of his lengthy incarceration, even as he has proven to be nonviolent and compliant.
• 🏛️ His family has long petitioned for clemency, and the case was brought before Florida's Executive Clemency Board.

Nikki Fried's Advocacy

• 🗣️ Nikki Fried, former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and a member of the clemency board, recommended Edwards' release.
• 🚫 Governor Ron DeSantis recently declined to grant clemency, stating he was "not inclined at this time" without further explanation.
• ✊ Fried describes the situation as a "travesty of justice" and emphasizes that the former state attorney who prosecuted Edwards also believes justice has been served and he should be freed.

Path Forward for Clemency

• 📝 To pursue release, a new petition must be filed, potentially requiring a "rule 17" to expedite the case before the clemency board.
• ❓ Fried notes that Governor DeSantis has not been willing to engage in discussions about the case, despite public outcry and the former prosecutor's plea.
• 📣 The call is for Governor DeSantis to reconsider the case or provide a clear explanation for denying clemency.