KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday that Tennessee’s execution protocols will remain unchanged following a failed execution attempt in May, marking his first public comments on the matter since the incident.
Lee made the remarks during a stop in Knoxville, where he told reporters that the Department of Corrections followed proper procedure during the attempted execution of inmate Tony Carruthers — which was halted after medical staff could not find a vein.
“I think, as we have observed, everything about the protocol of the death penalty in the state was carried out appropriately,” Lee said. “In that situation, the Department of Corrections did exactly what they were supposed to.”…