A bigot and a tyrant: Anti-gay Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis terrorized her staff and made life miserable for her employees.

Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses, terrorized her staff, who wanted to follow the law and issue same-sex marriage licenses, but were too afraid of Davis to do so.

Yesterday a judge found Davis in contempt of court and had her placed in jail. Today, with their boss safely in jail and powerless, the county’s deputy clerks began issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

In an interview with the Kentucky Trial Court Review, Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins explains that the deputy clerks in Kim Davis’ office wanted to obey the law and issue same-sex marriage licenses, but they were too afraid of their boss to come forward and say so.

The following is an excerpt from a report on the interview with Watkins posted to the Kentucky Trial Court Review Facebook page:

Watkins indicates that Kim Davis “does not represent” Rowan County and is not representative of its inclusive values. From day one, Watkins told Davis “I will not and cannot support you” in her defiance of the law. Not only that he was clear he would not represent her as the law in the case of same sex marriage is clear. While he has no stance on same sex marriage, well-established federal law must be followed. Watkins wanted to emphasize several other things. First that everyone who works at the courthouse has endured cursing as they enter the building. And it’s not just at her office. Everyone in the courthouse is scared to come to work. Second that Liberty Counsel will leave Kim Davis high and dry when this charade is over. Watkins thinks the funds they raise off the case should go to Rowan County. Finally and most importantly he has learned that deputy clerks would issue lawful marriage licenses. They are simply afraid to do so. And if Judge Bunning instructs them to do so . . . they will. Davis has put, in the words of Watkins, her employees and everyone in the courthouse in a “terrible position.”

It is good to know that Davis does not represent Rowan County, and that the vast majority of the Rowan County staff rejected Davis’ religious bigotry as a justification for persecuting same-sex couples. There is no excuse for refusing to follow the law and issue marriage licenses.

Also, the point that Davis is being exploited and victimized by anti-gay conservative Christian interest groups is one that needs to be made. Davis may be an ignorant bigot, but the Liberty Counsel, Republican politicians, and other anti-gay interests are exploiting and manipulating Davis for their own ends.

Perhaps most telling is the concluding note left by Shannon Ragland of the Kentucky Trial Court Review:

Ed. Note – The takeaways from the Watkins interview are clear. Davis is acting alone in her zealous mission. Her conduct has terrorized not just her staff but everyone that works in the courthouse. And all for a foolish mission aided by out of state charlatan lawyers trying to raise money for their “religious liberty” mission. Shannon Ragland Kentucky Trial Court Review

All in all, the interview with Rowan County Attorney Watkins paints a grim picture of life under Kim Davis, a self-righteous religious bigot who terrorized those around her.

(H/T ThinkProgress, Joe My God)