Pawlenty says pardoned sex offender may have lied

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says a sex offender who he helped pardon two years ago should now face new charges for lying on his pardon application.

Pawlenty is asking prosecutors in two counties to decide whether Jeremy Giefer committed perjury or fraud for not disclosing other unlawful behavior. Giefer is facing new charges for sexually abusing a girl before and after his 2008 pardon. He had already completed his sentence from another assault when the state pardons board acted. But Pawlenty said today the pardon wouldn't have been granted if other allegations were known.

"If the current allegations against him result in a conviction or in any indication of illegal behavior, he perjured himself and lied to us and may have committed other forms of fraud or misrepresentation before a governmental agency or board," Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty said he's not thinking about the potential political damage from his role in the pardon. He said his concern is with the victim.

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