Kentucky Clerk's Husband Says His Wife Is 'Not Gonna Bow'

Kim Davis is prepared to stay in jail for "as long as it takes."

The husband of a Rowan County, Kentucky, clerk who's in jail because she refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples spoke out on his wife's behalf Thursday.

"They have illegally put my wife in jail so we’re gonna ask (Kentucky Governor Steve] Beshear to do his job or step down," Joe Davis said outside the Rowan County Courthouse.

His wife, Kim Davis, was jailed on Thursday after she refused to comply with U.S. District Judge David Bunning's order to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, citing her religious beliefs and "God's authority."

Kim Davis' husband came to her defense after she was arrested for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

Kim Davis' husband came to her defense after she was arrested for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

Credit: Carter County Detention Center via Associated Press

"We’ve had people running for president that knows more about the law than Bunning does," Joe Davis said. "That’s sad that we have a judge that’s sitting behind the bench with a black robe on that don’t know the law."

Bunning said he would keep Davis' wife in jail until she complied with his order.

"They’re not gonna let her out and she’s not gonna bow," Davis said. "I promise you that."

A reporter asked him how long his wife would be willing to stay in jail."As long as it takes," he responded.

The entire matter could be resolved for Kim Davis, and the gay couples of Rowan County, if the clerk resigned.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misquoted Davis as asking for the sheriff to "do his job or step down." Davis was referring to the governor.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot