Governor Shapiro Criticizes Biden’s Clemency for Disgraced Judge in Kids for Cash Scandal
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Governor Josh Shapiro expressed strong disapproval on Friday regarding President Joe Biden’s recent decision to commute the sentence of Michael Conahan, a former Luzerne County judge implicated in the notorious Kids for Cash scandal. Speaking during a visit to local businesses in Scranton, Shapiro emphasized the pain caused by the decision in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Conahan and another judge, Mark Ciaverella, were convicted in 2011 for sending juveniles to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks, resulting in substantial financial gain. Shapiro acknowledged that while he may not have access to all of the information considered by President Biden, he firmly believes the commutation was "absolutely wrong."
"The power to grant clemency should be exercised very carefully," Shapiro remarked, highlighting the importance of evaluating cases meticulously. He underscored the long-lasting impacts of the Kids for Cash scandal, which devastated families and contributed to mental health crises among affected youth. Tragically, some children have reportedly taken their own lives as a result of the scandal, underscoring the severe consequences of the judges’ corrupt practices.
Shapiro criticized the leniency shown towards Conahan, who had already been on home confinement since 2020 due to COVID-19, serving just a fraction of his original 17-year sentence. "He should have been in prison for at least the 17 years that he was sentenced to by a jury of his peers," Shapiro asserted.
Conahan was among 1,499 individuals whose sentences were commuted by Biden, alongside 39 pardoned on the same day. Shapiro’s remarks reflect deep community frustration over the handling of a case that has left a lasting mark on the region.
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