Bill Lee: “I very much view our focus at, because we are a development agency first and foremost, is to enter into fragile states…”

It’s a tragedy, and it’s deeply disturbing that that has happened in this state. The people deserve better than that.

I hope that Tennessee governor Bill Lee’s decision to postpone the last execution scheduled for this year will give lawmakers time to consider the subject seriously.

I have ordered a pause on all executions for the remainder of the year.

The people of Tennessee have determined that the death penalty is the appropriate penalty for the most heinous crimes in the state.