Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt criticized Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in a post on X that drew widespread praise from conservatives, targeting Walz's defense of his decision to pardon a convicted child rapist who was scheduled for deportation.
Pratt posted: "If you find yourself defending a child molester, saying: 'WE can't be judged by OUR worst day', you probably need to have your hard drives checked." The post was shared and amplified by numerous Republican figures across social media.
The controversy stems from the Minnesota Board of Pardons granting clemency to Tou Lue Vang, 42, a Laotian national convicted for repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl between 2002 and 2004. After his arrest, Vang told authorities that "it is a cultural thing... to marry and have sex with girls as young as 12." The board, composed of Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, issued the pardon on June 10.
Walz defended the pardon in response to questions about whether it made communities safer. "Did that make us any safer?" Walz questioned. "Did that make the children that are left behind any more stable? Did it improve the idea that we can't all be judged by our worst day?"
What the Left Is Saying
Progressives and some criminal justice reform advocates have pointed to the broader context of clemency powers as tools for rehabilitation and second chances. Defenders note that governors routinely use pardon authority in cases where individuals have completed their sentences and demonstrated rehabilitation over extended periods.
Some Democratic voices have argued that focusing on Pratt's post distracts from substantive questions about whether deportation actually prevents future crimes or serves public safety goals. The Walz administration's position emphasizes that the clemency process exists precisely to evaluate individual circumstances beyond initial convictions.
Others within the party have suggested that Republican criticism of Walz is politically motivated, noting that similar clemency decisions occur across both parties without generating comparable attention. The emphasis on second chances for non-violent offenders has been a consistent Democratic policy position, though this case involves more serious crimes.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics were swift and direct in their condemnation. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District posted: "Tim Walz has ZERO morals. He is a disgrace to Minnesota!"
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X: "To think... he was almost the Vice President," referencing Walz's time as Kamala Harris's running mate during the 2024 Democratic presidential campaign.
Florida Republican congressional candidate Tim Wilkins wrote: "I didn't used to understand the phrase, 'bring common sense to DC,' but it becomes more apparent every day that it's missing at every level of government. This is insanity."
Pratt's post was widely shared among conservative circles, with many praising his direct criticism of Walz's rationale for granting clemency in this case.
What the Numbers Show
Tou Lue Vang was convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child between 2002 and 2004. He had been scheduled for deportation before receiving the June 10 pardon from the Minnesota Board of Pardons.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened to terminate Vang's legal status in the United States, ensuring that Walz's pardon would not prevent Department of Homeland Security from removing him from the country. Vang was ultimately deported following Rubio's action.
Pratt finished third in the Los Angeles mayoral primary and has been increasingly active in political discourse on social media since that campaign. He met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office recently, fueling speculation about another potential political run for office.
The Bottom Line
The controversy highlights tensions between gubernatorial clemency powers and federal immigration enforcement authority. Walz exercised his constitutional role in granting pardons through the Minnesota Board of Pardons, while Rubio's intervention demonstrated that executive branch officials can take independent action on immigration matters regardless of state-level decisions.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz's office for comment on this story but did not receive a response by publication time.