San Francisco DA’s Father Granted Clemency by Outgoing NY Gov. Cuomo – NBC Bay Space
San Francisco District Attorney’s father Chesa Boudin received grace from outgoing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday, the governor’s office said.
David Gilbert, 76, has been in jail for most of his life, Boudin tweeted Monday night after the pardon.
“My heart is bursting,” said Boudin, adding that it is the eve of his first child’s birth.
“He never intended anything bad, but his crime has devastated many families,” said Boudin. “My heart breaks for the families who can never get their loved ones back.”
According to Cuomo’s office, Gilbert was convicted of three second-degree murder and four first-degree robbery in 1983.
“Since I appreciate his desire for his father’s release, he should think long and hard about the families and the pain they endured for 40 years,” said Mike Lawler, Republican MP for New York State. “It was a disgusting last act of the governor that commuted David Gilbert’s judgment.”
The President of the Police Officers Association of San Francisco agrees, saying, “While Chesa Boudin continues to use his influence to campaign for the release of his biological father, the victims continue to experience immense loss.”
Gilbert was sentenced to 75 years for life and served 40 years. The governor’s office said Gilbert and five other Cuomo pardons had shown “substantial evidence of rehabilitation and commitment to their communities.”
Gilbert was not the killer but the driver in the 1981 robbery of Nanuet National Bank that killed a Brink armored car guard and two police officers, according to a terrorism-related report from New York State.
During his imprisonment, Gilbert contributed to programs related to AIDS education and prevention, including serving as a student tutor, legal library clerk, paralegal, and teaching assistant, among other things.
The parole board examines Gilbert’s case and can grant him parole. Lawler says he plans to block his release.
“These mercies show the power of salvation, encourage those who have made mistakes to undergo meaningful rehabilitation, and show New Yorkers that we can work toward a better future,” Cuomo said in a statement.
