GRAYSON, Ky. — The county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples was released Tuesday after five days behind bars, emerging to a welcome from hundreds of cross-waving supporters.
"All has been well," said Kim Davis, standing next to both her lawyer and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Asked whether it was worth it, she smiled and nodded yes.
At the same time, her lawyer refused to say whether she would defy the courts again.
"Kim cannot and will not violate her conscience," said Mat Staver, founder of the Liberty Counsel, the Christian firm representing Davis. As for what happens next, he said only: "You'll find out in the near future."
The Rowan County clerk walked free after the federal judge who ordered her locked up lifted the contempt order against her, saying he was satisfied that her deputies were fulfilling their obligation to grant licenses to same-sex couples in her absence.
But U.S. District Judge David Bunning also warned Davis not to interfere again.
he move came down just before Davis received jailhouse visits from both Huckabee and fellow Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz.
"If somebody has to go to jail, I'm willing to go in her place. I believe that," said Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and Arkansas governor. He added: "She has shown more courage than any politician I know. She not only said something, she was willing to put her life at risk."
See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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