NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee will release more details Monday surrounding why he abruptly canceled the execution of Oscar Smith, delaying his previous plan to reveal the reasons this week, the Republican’s spokesperson confirmed.
Casey Black said in an email Tuesday that the governor’s office will “be releasing more information and action steps.” Lee had previously promised reporters to provide new information this week. However, the governor’s office pointed to the pending adjournment of the GOP-controlled General Assembly as a reason to push back divulging execution details.
“I think that’s fair to folks who are stretched thin covering final items of import in the legislature and trying to cover this issue with attention to detail,” Communications Director Laine Arnold said in a follow-up email.
Last week, Lee issued a statement saying there had been an “oversight in preparation for lethal injection” as he granted a temporary reprieve to the 72-year-old Smith. A day later, he said the reprieve was needed because of a “technical oversight,” without explaining further.
The governor’s office and Department of Correction have since declined to answer direct questions about the planned execution, including whether the execution drugs were compounded, and if so, whether a pharmacist had those drugs independently tested for “potency, sterility and endotoxins” as outlined in the state’s lethal injection protocols. The protocol allows the state to use compounded or manufactured drugs.