Victims express outrage over Biden’s clemency for a judge involved in a scandal that harmed countless children and families in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania: Victims of a former judge are really upset about President Biden’s recent decision to grant him clemency. It’s a tough pill to swallow for many.
Back in 2011, Michael Conahan got over 17 years in prison for his role in the kids-for-cash scandal. He and another judge took bribes to send kids to private detention centers. Can you believe it? Over 2,300 kids were affected, some as young as eight.
Conahan was let out in 2020 because of Covid-19 and was on house arrest until 2026. But now, Biden has commuted his sentence along with many others, which has left a lot of people feeling hurt.
Sandy Fonzo, a mother who lost her son after he was sent to jail at 17, said she was shocked and hurt by the pardon. She feels it’s a huge injustice for families still suffering from the fallout of Conahan’s actions.
Amanda Lorah, who was wrongfully imprisoned at just 14, echoed those feelings. She said it felt like a slap in the face, especially since they lost so much time and support during their struggles.
The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, also criticized Biden’s decision, saying it was completely wrong and caused more pain in the community. He’s not alone in feeling this way.
Biden’s clemency actions were the largest in a single day, affecting nearly 1,500 people. The White House said these individuals had successfully reintegrated into their communities after being placed on home confinement during the pandemic.
It’s a complicated situation, and many are still trying to process the impact of these decisions.