News Anchors Aren't Supposed To Cry...

One of my heroes in TV news is Steve Hartman.  He's works for CBS and travels the country reporting on every day folks.


He produces a series every week called "On the Road."  They are extremely moving pieces - brilliantly written, shot well, and the type of stories you want to share.


Tonight's report nearly brought CBS news anchor Scott Pelley to tears.  It's about a little girl who asks Santa for only one thing: her dad to come home from Iraq.


Grab a tissue...

27 years...

Have you ever been accused of something you didn't do?  Ever been called something you aren't or blamed for something you had nothing to do with?


I have.  The other day a viewer sent an email to my boss saying I'm a liar who can't be trusted.


It made me mad.


Then I met this guy.

Thomas Haynesworth.


You probably haven't heard of him unless you live in Virginia.


In 1984, he was arrested and charged with brutally raping several women in Richmond.  He went to jail.  He sat through multiple court hearings.  He was labeled a "violent rapist."  He was found guilty of the crimes.  He was sent to prison.

One problem.

Thomas Haynesworth had NOTHING to do with the crimes.

NOTHING.

He was walking to the grocery store to buy bread for Sunday dinner when a woman who had been attacked told a police officer Haynesworth was the culprit.

Within hours, he lost his freedom.

For 27 years.
Nearly three decades.
Locked up for something he didn't do.


Thomas spent nearly every waking hour in prison proclaiming his innocence.  When he wasn't studying the law, he was studying the Bible.  When he wasn't talking to his attorney, he was talking to God.


Fast forward to 2009.  Thomas takes a DNA test and is completely cleared of the crimes.  The rapes are linked to another man currently serving time for other sex crimes.


Since he's cleared in 2009, you'd think Thomas would be released from prison immediately, right?


Wrong.


It takes an additional two years to free him.  


Two years.  After it's been proven he was completely innocent.


Finally, in March, Thomas walked out of prison - but his nightmare was far from over.


The charges were still attached to his name.  He had a parole officer to report to every  week.  He was listed as a violent sex offender.  He couldn't go on a date, near a computer, playground, and had to stay away from his nieces and nephews.


Until yesterday.


Virginia's Attorney General emotionally announced that as of today, Thomas Haynesworth has been completely exonerated for the crimes.  

VA Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

The AG openly wept as he apologized to Thomas on behalf of the state of Virginia.  He commended Thomas for persistently proclaiming his innocence and fighting for his freedom.

Thomas Haynesworth with Cuccinelli and his attorney from the Innocence Project.

Interestingly the prosecutors office's who fought so hard to lock Thomas up 27 years ago are the same ones who have been fighting the past two years to get him released from prison .  In fact, it's unheard of to have three state attorneys appear before the Court of Appeals and ask them to release a man on cases they themselves prosecuted.


Today Thomas's record is wiped clean. 


He is completely free.


I asked him what he learned in prison.  


PATIENCE was his response.  


I asked him how he remained optimistic.  


GOD and FAITH was response.  


I asked him if he was angry and wanted revenge.  


I'M MOVING ON was his response.


This morning, for the first time in almost three decades, Thomas Haynesworth woke up a completely free man.  


He showered, got dressed, ate breakfast, then left for his new job...working in the mailroom at the state attorney general's office.