As reported by Breitbart News, Joe Teirab, a former federal prosecutor and Republican candidate for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, has publicly criticized Governor Tim Walz for commuting the sentence of a convicted murderer.

In an interview with Fox Business, Teirab argued that Walz "has to answer" for his decision to commute the sentence of Myon Burrell, who was convicted of murdering an 11-year-old girl. The story was reported by

Teirab, a Republican candidate, expressed his concerns about Walz's decision-making and leadership, particularly in relation to the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots and the commutation of Burrell's sentence. He argued that these actions demonstrate Walz's failure as a leader and raise questions about his judgment.

Details Of The Myon Burrell Case

Myon Burrell was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 2002 murder of Tyesha Edwards, an 11-year-old girl in Minneapolis.

At the time of his conviction, Burrell was 16 years old. The case gained significant attention partly due to its connection to Senator Amy Klobuchar, who was serving as the Hennepin County district attorney when Burrell was prosecuted.

In December 2020, Governor Tim Walz, along with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, voted to commute Burrell's sentence. This decision resulted in Burrell's release from prison, with the remainder of his sentence to be served under supervised release.

Teirab, in his interview, provided more details about the case. He stated that Burrell was a member of the Bloods criminal street gang and that the victim, Tyesha Edwards, was shot while doing her homework at her kitchen table in Minneapolis.

Teirab's Criticism Of The Commutation

Teirab expressed strong disapproval of Walz's decision to commute Burrell's sentence. He argued that despite Burrell maintaining his innocence, the evidence clearly pointed to his guilt.

Teirab said:

I think Tim Walz has to answer for this: there's a man in Minnesota, a criminal named Myon Burrell, and some people might know his story because Myon Burrell's a Bloods criminal street gang member. I charged the Bloods in a more recent case. Myon Burrell shot and killed an 11-year-old girl who was doing her homework on her kitchen table in Minneapolis.

Teirab's criticism extends beyond the initial commutation, as he also highlighted subsequent events involving Burrell.

Recent Developments And Allegations

According to Teirab, Burrell faced new legal troubles shortly after his release. The former prosecutor claimed that just three months after completing his probation, Burrell was arrested for possession of drugs and a firearm in his vehicle.

Teirab further alleged that Burrell was bailed out by the Minnesota Freedom Fund, an organization that he claims Kamala Harris solicited funds for during the 2020 riots.

He stated:

And, not long after being off of probation for three months, this criminal, Myon Burrell, got picked up for having drugs and a gun in his car. And guess who bailed him out? Because he was set free. Guess who bailed him out? The Minnesota Freedom Fund. The same fund that Kamala Harris was soliciting funds for during the riots.

These allegations add another layer of controversy to the case, potentially implicating broader political issues.

Confirmation Of Recent Charges

The Associated Press reported that in September 2023, Burrell was indeed charged with gun and drug felonies. This occurred after law enforcement officers allegedly discovered a firearm and drugs in his vehicle during a traffic stop.

This development seems to support Teirab's concerns about the wisdom of commuting Burrell's sentence and raises questions about the effectiveness of the supervised release program.

In conclusion, Joe Teirab, a former federal prosecutor and current Republican candidate, has publicly criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for commuting the sentence of Myon Burrell, who was convicted of murdering an 11-year-old girl in 2002.

Teirab argues that this decision demonstrates poor leadership, especially in light of Burrell's recent legal troubles. The case has gained renewed attention due to these developments, which occurred after Burrell's release from prison under the terms of his commuted sentence.