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Gov. Mike Braun confirmed Tuesday that Indiana spent more than $1 million in taxpayer funds to purchase four doses of execution drugs — some which were used, and several others that expired.
He also clarified that the drugs were purchased in two transactions — one under former Gov. Eric Holcomb and one by him.
In total, $1.175 million was spent, Braun said. But two of those — worth $600,000 — expired with no use because “they had been on the shelf too long.”
Braun emphasized Tuesday, however, that neither of the doses used by the Indiana Department of Correction in December and May were expired when administered to inmates.
Reporting by the Indiana Capitol Chronicle previously revealed that at least $900,000 was spent by Holcomb’s administration to purchase pentobarbital. The execution drug was used in December to carry out the death penalty for convicted killer Joseph Corcoran, and again in May for the execution of Benjamin Ritchie.
“It was tricky, because if you acquired it, and there was some type of glitch, then you go into the same thing that happened with the Holcomb administration, which bought three (doses) — anticipating more (executions). But in course, two expired, so we were careful to make sure it looked like all the administrative parts (of the judicial process) were done,” Braun said, adding that his administration waited until “right before” Ritchie’s execution before buying any new doses of the drug.
“We knew that was going to be a fait accompli,” he continued. “I was careful, so that it looked like (the execution) was going to take place, and not have something occur. And that was a little tricky. But at that point, the Indiana Supreme Court and the parole board would have been all that was left to get through. Administratively, that looked like it had a pretty defined time frame. … It was a question of when you were going to actually get it and not be stranded with it.”
Braun denied Ritchie clemency less than a week before the execution.
Braun’s office confirmed Tuesday that his predecessor paid $900,000 for three doses of the drug. Only one of those doses was used, however; the other two doses expired. Braun said earlier this month that the drug has a 90-shelf life.
After taking office, Braun authorized an additional purchase of the drug earlier this year for $275,000. That covered one dose of pentobarbital, used for Ritchie’s May 20 execution.
It’s not clear when exactly the state acquired the doses or where they were purchased from. State law protects the identity of the seller from public scrutiny. State officials had previously declined to provide details about how much pentobarbital was purchased, and refused to provide information on expiration dates, storage or other details.
“You’re dealing with a source of (the execution drugs) that’s very hard to pin down,” Braun said. “If it’s going to be available, it’s not like you can get it from several places.”
The governor additionally reiterated his desire for state lawmakers to weigh in.
“I’m going to encourage the state legislature to look at it — in terms of, is that what we’re going to use, and then on the issue itself,” he said, referring to capital punishment and lethal injections. “I’m very agnostic on that. I want them to weigh in.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
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