The controversy surrounding President Biden’s pardon of former Judge Michael Conahan, convicted in the “kids-for-cash” scandal, has ignited calls for the removal of Biden’s name from a Scranton expressway. Conahan and another judge, Mark Ciavarella Jr., accepted kickbacks for sentencing juveniles to for-profit prisons, often for minor infractions, a scandal that led to the overturning of 4,000 juvenile convictions. Pennsylvania officials, particularly those in Biden’s hometown of Scranton, argue that the pardon undermines justice and disrespects the victims. State Representative Jamie Walsh has urged Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti to remove Biden’s name from the President Biden Expressway and Biden Avenue, asserting that the pardon effectively exonerates Conahan’s actions and sends a dangerous message about public corruption.
The “kids-for-cash” scandal remains a painful memory for the Scranton community. Walsh emphasized the lasting psychological impact on the victims, now adults, who were unjustly incarcerated, often for minor offences like jaywalking. He framed the issue as a matter of “right versus wrong,” transcending partisan politics, and stressed that Biden’s pardon dishonors the victims and diminishes his legacy. State Rep-elect Brenda Pugh echoed this sentiment, calling Conahan’s actions a “blight on Pennsylvania” and Biden’s pardon a “travesty” and “miscarriage of justice.” She believes the expressway bearing Biden’s name will serve as a constant reminder of this injustice.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak directly appealed to Mayor Cognetti to revert Biden Avenue back to Spruce Street. He argued that this action would demonstrate the city’s commitment to its values and restore public trust in leadership, tarnished by the pardon. Chermak believes the pardon has brought negative attention to Scranton and Lackawanna County, impacting their reputation. This sentiment underscores the local perception of the pardon as a betrayal of the community and a stain on Biden’s legacy.
Mayor Cognetti acknowledged the gravity of the situation, calling Biden’s commutation of Conahan’s sentence a “grave error” that reopened “deep and horrific” wounds for the community. She expressed her disapproval to the White House and lamented the irreversibility of the pardon. Cognetti herself ascended to the mayoralty following the resignation of her predecessor due to corruption charges, highlighting the city’s sensitivity to issues of public integrity. Despite her criticism of the pardon, Cognetti defended Biden’s overall legacy and expressed pride in his Scranton roots.
Cognetti acknowledged the ongoing debate over the expressway’s name, which predates the pardon, but attributed much of the current outcry to political motivations. She believes the pardon and Biden’s legacy should be considered separately, emphasizing Scranton’s pride in having a president as a native son. She emphasized the need to address corruption in government but maintained that this issue should not diminish Biden’s 50-year career in public service or his connection to Scranton. This reflects a complex local perspective, grappling with both pride in Biden’s achievements and disappointment over his decision regarding Conahan.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, while acknowledging the president’s absolute pardon power, criticized Biden’s decision, stating he should have exercised it more carefully. Shapiro emphasized the meticulous process he employs when considering pardons and clemencies, underscoring the gravity of such decisions. He expressed his strong disapproval of Biden’s pardon, recognizing the pain it inflicted on the northeastern Pennsylvania community, which was already deeply affected by the original scandal. Shapiro’s statement, combined with the local outcry, highlights the widespread condemnation of the pardon and its potential impact on Biden’s standing within his home state.
