Huckabee faces scutiny over parolee

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- GOP presidential hopeful and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee faces criticism for his role in the release of a convicted rapist who later killed a woman.

Members of the Arkansas parole board said Huckabee lobbied for the release of convicted rapist Wayne DuMond in 1996 while serving as governor, The New York Times reported Sunday.

DuMond killed a Missouri woman following his release from prison. He died in prison in 2005.

News sources reported three of the seven members of the Arkansas parole board said Huckabee pressured them to commute the rape sentence.

Huckabee denied the allegations, but a letter he sent DuMond later surfaced pointing to the contrary.

"Dear Wayne," he wrote. "My desire is that you be released from prison. I feel that parole is the best way for your reintroduction to society to take place."

Huckabee recently said he regretted the episode, but repeatedly denied the allegations.

"I can't fix it," he said. "I can only tell the truth and let the truth be my judge."

The episode emerged as Huckabee gained favor among likely voters in the presidential primaries and caucuses, causing a tight race between himself and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.