Kentucky won’t launch misconduct investigation into homophobic clerk
The Kentucky attorney general has said he has no plans to launch a misconduct investigation into anti-gay county clerk Kim Davis.
Davis was released from jail earlier this week after spending time behind bars for contempt of court.
The clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky, made international news when she defied a string of court orders by refusing to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, despite issuing marriage licenses being a large part of her job.
The Attorney General for Kentucky Jack Conway, has told reporters that Davis will nor be investigated by a special prosecutor for misconduct.
Conway said the issue is being addressed in federal court, where US District Judge David Bunning is happy that Davis’ deputies have so far complied with orders to stop discriminating.
“Passions on both sides are high, and I don’t want to inflame them,” Conway said. “I don’t see a need for a special prosecutor at this time.”
Mat Staver, of the adamantly anti-gay Liberty Counsel, which is representing Davis, has suggested she will continue to deny marriage licences to any gay couple.
After being released on Tuesday, Davis now plans to return to work this coming Monday.
She faces a challenge, however, if she wants to stop her deputies from issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples, as Brian Mason, one of the deputies, who have been ordered to issue marriage licences in Davis’ absence, said he would ignore her if she told him not to issue licences to gay couples.
Photos of her were posted surrounded by ‘fan mail’, and she released a statement saying: “I am deeply moved by all those who prayed for me. All I can say is that I am amazed and very grateful. I am enjoying spending time with my husband, my family, and my three dogs. I have also been spending time reading boxes of letters expressing support and prayers from people around the country.
“I haven’t even made a dent in the piles of letters,” she said.
“I love God, love people, and love my work. I hope we will continue to respect these values and that America remains a place where all three can live in harmony,” Davis continued.
