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President Biden’s latest wave of pardons has sparked outrage, particularly his decision to commute the sentence of Michael T. Conahan, a former Pennsylvania judge convicted in a notorious “Kids for Cash” scandal.
Conahan, who received a 17.5-year prison sentence in 2011 for racketeering conspiracy, had previously sent children to private detention facilities in exchange for financial kickbacks. Some juveniles faced imprisonment for minor infractions like jaywalking or posting critical comments about school officials on social media.
Biden commuted the sentence of former judge Michael Conahan, who was in prison for 28 years after he used his position to make money off of sending kids to for-profit prisons.
Here's a video of one of the kid's mother confronting Conahan after her son took his own life due to… pic.twitter.com/DLrqzP3iwk
— David J Harris Jr (@DavidJHarrisJr) December 15, 2024
After being released to home confinement in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, Conahan has now received full clemency through Biden’s commutation.
Amanda Lorah, who spent five years in juvenile detention over a volleyball game altercation, expressed her frustration to WBRE-TV: “It’s a big slap in the face for us once again. We had no one to talk to, but now we’re talking about the President of the United States to do this. What about all of us?”
Republican State Rep-elect Brenda Pugh condemned the decision, telling WBRE: “Conahan’s conduct is forever a blight on Pennsylvania and is a slap in the face to the victims and their families who deserve justice to be served for his atrocious crimes. This decision is nothing short of a travesty, and his clemency is a miscarriage of justice.”
This is Judge Michael Conahan—the corrupt disgrace behind the ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal, destroying young lives for kickbacks from private juvenile centers.
Biden just pardoned him. In 2025, we will restore accountability in our justice system. pic.twitter.com/TRHXGRq11y
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) December 15, 2024
State Senator Doug Mastriano echoed these sentiments, stating to Fox News: “He’s a failed president who couldn’t help himself to pardon his corrupt criminal son from so many illegals schemes.”
Social media erupted with criticism, with one X user questioning, “How many kids’ lives did this guy ruin? Some of them killed themselves, and Biden lets him walk. Despicable.”
This controversial pardon adds to mounting criticism of Biden’s presidency, which has been marked by economic challenges, rising crime rates, and immigration concerns.
