SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was in Scranton Friday and spoke out against Biden's decision to commute the sentence of disgraced former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan.
"Governors and presidents have unique power to grant pardons and clemency and commute sentences. It is an absolute power, and it is a power that should be used incredibly carefully. I study every single case that comes across my desk where there's a request for a pardon, or clemency, or a reduction of sentence – and I take it very seriously. I weigh the merits of the case, I weigh what occurred in the court proceedings, I think about public safety and victims and all of those issues factor into my decision.I recognize that those on the outside can question those decisions, as you are here today, and posing a question to me as to the clemency granted by President Biden. So I'll offer these thoughts as an outsider, not privy to all the information he looked at, but I do feel strongly that President Biden got it absolutely wrong and created a lot of pain here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.This was not only a black eye on the community, the kids for cash scandal, but it also affected families in really deep and profound and sad ways. Some children took their lives because of this. Families were torn apart. There was all kind of mental health issues and anguish that came as a result of these corrupt judges deciding they wanted to make a buck off a kid's back. Frankly, I thought the sentence that the judge got was too light, and the fact that he's been allowed out over the last years because of COVID, was on house arrest and now has been granted clemency, I think, is absolutely wrong. He should have been in prison for at least the 17 years that he was sentenced to by a jury of his peers. He deserves to be behind bars, not walking as a free man."Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Conahan and fellow judge Mark Ciavarella were convicted in connection with a scheme that sent thousands of juveniles to two private detention centers in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks.
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You can hear more reaction on the commutation of Conahan's sentence from 'Kids for Cash' victim Amanda Lorah, who was sent to juvenile detention for five years simply for being involved in a fight at a high school volleyball game.