Victims of a former Pennsylvania judge convicted in the so-called “kids for cash scandal” are outraged by Joe Biden’s decision to pardon him.
In 2011, Michael Conahan and another judge, Mark Ciavarella, were charged with accepting $2.8 million in illegal payments in exchange for shipping more than 2,300 children, some as young as 8 years old. He was convicted and sentenced to more than 17 years in prison. – To a private juvenile detention center.
Conahan was released from prison in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and was placed on house arrest, which was scheduled to end in 2026.
Conahan’s sentence is one of about 1,500 that the U.S. president on Thursday commuted or shortened their sentences and pardoned 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes.
In response to Conahan’s pardon, the mother of a boy who was sent to prison at age 17 and later died by suicide told the public she was “shocked and hurt.”
“Conaghan’s actions have destroyed my family, including mine. My son’s death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power,” Sandy Fonzo told the outlet. “This amnesty feels unfair to all of us who are still suffering. Now I am dealing with this recurrence of this pain and doing the best I can.”
Similarly, Amanda Lora, who was wrongly imprisoned at age 14 as part of the scheme, told WBRE:
“We…we were robbed of time. We had no one to talk to, and now we’re talking about getting the president of the United States to do this. What about all of us?”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also condemned Biden’s decision, telling reporters that Biden was “completely wrong,” the Pennsylvania Capital Star reported.
“As an outsider, I don’t know all the information that President Biden has researched, but his judgment is completely wrong and will cause tremendous pain here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. I feel strongly that I brought this about.”
Biden’s action on Thursday marked the largest single-day presidential pardon.
Regarding the move, the White House said, “The President will commute the sentences of nearly 1,500 people who have been placed under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.”
Attempts to contact Mr. Conahan were not immediately successful.
