Schwarzenegger: California Prisons Aren't Cruel

From the Political Muscle foreign desk:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has assured the government of Malta that an accused pedophile will be treated with fairness if he is extradited to the U.S. The governor's letter is designed to ease the way for the prisoner, Lewis Muscat, to be transferred here, according to the Malta press.

"I am confident that Mr. Muscat's rights will be protected should he be found guilty of the pending charges," Schwarzenegger wrote.

Muscat, 56, allegedly sexually abused a female relative, now 11, over a period of three years. He is also accused of abusing other children and faces 18 criminal counts, according to the reports.

Malta Media News has more about Muscat, who has appealed his extradition to the U.S.:

"The appeal adds that abusive acts on underage children, possession and control of pornography and distributing indecent material through electronic mail, Internet and telephone do not constitute a case for extradition.

"According to Section 5, Chapter 276 of the Maltese Constitution, an extradition can be carried out in cases of rape with violence, kidnapping, unconsummated rape and violent attacks."