Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said over the weekend that he would never pardon Steven Avery -- or anyone else for that matter -- because it would "undermine" the criminal justice system.
On this week's edition of WFRV's Newsmaker Sunday, host Kris Schuller noted that Netflix's hit show Making a Murderer had caused many people to call for Avery's release. Avery was freed from prison in 2003 after spending 18 years in prison for a rape he did not commit -- only to be convicted of murder and sent back to prison in 2005.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have petitioned for Avery's release on the grounds that law enforcement and prosecutors orchestrated the conviction of an innocent man.
"I have made it my practice for the last five years to not issue pardons," Walker told Schuller. "I don't believe we should undermine the criminal justice system. And this is a prime example."
"Steven Avery was convicted by a jury of his peers for a brutal, brutal rape and murder of a 25-year-old girl," the governor continued. "The court of appeals heard his appeal, the state Supreme Court heard his appeal. He's gone through all of the processes."
"And if, as some claim, he was innocent then he should introduce or people on his behalf should introduce evidence."
Walker argued that Avery had cleared himself with DNA evidence once before and so he should do it again.
"If they have new evidence, they should use it," he said.
