Testimonials
Legal scholars, community leaders, and people who know the guys all agree: these men are innocent, and it is time that they receive justice in the form of presidential pardons.
Shawn Armbrust
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project
“As the executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, I have helped free 43 men who were wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. This case is a clear wrongful conviction: No physical evidence that ties the men to this crime, the government’s theory about how the crime happened was impossible, and we know who actually committed the murder.
I am absolutely convinced that Chris, Cliff, Tim, Russell, Levy, and Charles are innocent.
Despite their years of wrongful incarceration, they have emerged as leaders since being freed from prison. All six of them work hard and do everything they can to better their community. Chris, for example, joined the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project’s board of directors. His support and work have been crucial as we strive to prevent and correct the convictions of innocent people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The same is true for Cliff, Tim, Russell, Levy, and Charles. It is time to recognize their innocence and their contributions to their community—they deserve presidential pardons.”
Rob Cary
Partner, Williams & Connolly LLP
Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
“Timothy Catlett, Russell Overton, Levy Rouse, Charles Turner, Chris Turner, and Clifton Yarborough are innocent. They did not kill Catherine Fuller. And they did not participate in any way, shape, or form in the murder of Catherine Fuller.
To know these men is to know that they did not kill Mrs. Fuller. To understand the physical evidence is to know that they did not kill Mrs. Fuller. And to know what we now know about a man named James McMillan is to know that they did not kill Mrs. Fuller.
I have been involved in this case for 13 years. I have never accused anybody who has touched this case of acting in bad faith. What happened to Mrs. Fuller was horrible, and people were rightly outraged. Our society failed her. And our society failed Abbey McClosky. Our society has also failed Cliff, Timothy, Russell, Levy, Charles, and Chris. Over and over again.”
You can read Rob’s full letter to President Biden here.
Michael Eric Dyson
Distinguished University Professor
Vanderbilt University
“These six men faced injustice in its highest form. Not a single piece of physical evidence tied the accused to the crime scene. After collectively spending over 250 years in prison for a crime they did not commit, all six men maintained their sense of duty to the community and diligent work ethics. They became ministers, public speakers, community leaders, artists, and engaged employees.
These men have become exemplary citizens whose devotion to justice, passion for fairness, dedication to the community, and hunger for service to others mark them as extraordinary members of our country who deserve justice in their personal lives. I recommend granting them pardons.”
Tara Libert
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Free Minds Book Club
You can read letters to President Biden from Tara and other Free Minds staff members here.
“I am the co-founder and Executive Director of Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, a DC-based nonprofit dedicated to building a community of support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults through the literary arts, workforce development, trauma healing, peace-building, and member-led advocacy.
It has been my greatest honor to get to know Chris, Charles, Levy, Russell, Tim, and Cliff over the past 13 years. I can think of no individuals more deserving of a pardon. These men have made an enormous positive impact on Free Minds. They have dedicated countless hours to our community, voluntarily serving as mentors to individuals still incarcerated and those recently released. They are invaluable to our programming. They facilitate classes; write powerful poetry; speak on panels to diverse audiences, from law enforcement agencies to youth in classrooms, faith groups, and businesses; they even go back inside prisons to mentor fellow Free Minds members. They are indescribably resilient and kind. One of these gentlemen—Chris Turner—was so impactful and displayed such enthusiasm and commitment that he was elected by our Board of Directors to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the organization. He is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead our Board of Directors.
Despite enduring decades of brutal conditions and wrongful incarceration, Chris, Charles, Levy, Russell, Tim, and Cliff maintain a generosity of spirit and an incredible energy and drive to serve others. Their passion to contribute to the community is truly remarkable. They could easily choose to move on with their lives, now that they have all been released, but they are so eager to support Free Minds. They are a testament to the best of the human spirit. Their convictions are a horrible injustice that must be rectified; pardons are an essential step toward righting this wrong. ”