Another Gay Couple Denied Marriage License by Kentucky Clerk

ByMEGHAN KENEALLY ABCNews logo
Thursday, September 3, 2015

Another same-sex couple was refused a marriage license today by the Kentucky county clerk who has come under fire for refusing to follow the Supreme Court's ruling legalizing gay marriage.

Rowan County clerk Kim Davis defended her decision today when Robbie Blankenship and Jesse Cruz tried to get a marriage license.

She said she was "not discriminating because I'm not issuing marriage licenses to anybody."

But U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey issued a statement today, saying, "We have grave concerns about the reported failure to comply with the court's order. Government officials are free to disagree withthe law, but not disobey it. The County Clerk has presented her position through the federal court system, all of the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is time for the Clerk and the County to follow the law."

Earlier at the clerk's office, protesters on both sides of the issue flooded in behind Blankenship and Cruz and began chanting loudly during the exchange.

Blankenship is seen turning toward the news cameras at one point, saying of Davis, "She's been married four times, three divorces. We've been together 20 years."

The Associated Press reported that Davis has been married four times -- twice to the same man -- and divorced three times.

Though today's video shows that Davis appears to be trying to refuse issuing a license without getting into a debate, she does bring up her religious beliefs at one point.

"Have you received death threats for what you believe?" she says, before adding that "our Constitution was founded on faith," and being cut off by the couple and protesters.

Shortly after, Davis is seen retreating to her office, with the shades drawn. She has been in her office much of today and was escorted to work by a man with a handgun visible at his waistband.

The controversy surrounding her refusal will play out Thursday in court, where a federal judge told her to appear after the Supreme Court this week refused to intervene in an appeals court's affirmation that she issue the licenses. She could be found in contempt of court.

Her attorney will argue that she should not be held in contempt of court because of her due process rights.

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