Although implicitly discussed when I talk about the politics involved, I omitted any direct reference to the key fact that the notoriety of the crime or the public stature of the individual victim involved should not be a factor in making determinations during parole, or for that matter at any time during related legal proceedings.  Mr. Sirhan was made eligible for parole after the February 1972 abolishment of the death penalty in California per People v. Anderson 493 P.2d 880, 6 Cal. 3d 628 (Cal. 1972), and then the parole board granted his release. Any further interference by political officials is clearly based on the notoriety of the crime, especially when the victim is used as an example by the California Governor in his January LA Times Op-Ed regarding his decision to overturn the parole board’s decision.