President Joe Biden has faced significant backlash for commuting the sentence of Michael Conahan, a former judge convicted in Pennsylvania’s “kids-for-cash” scandal. Conahan had been serving a nearly 18-year sentence for accepting millions in bribes to send children to for-profit detention centers.
The scheme saw Conahan close a county-run juvenile detention center in favor of private facilities that paid him and another judge $2.8 million in kickbacks. Prosecutors uncovered how children as young as eight were incarcerated for minor offenses like truancy, with many suffering long-term trauma.
Mother who lost her son in the "Kids-for-Cash" scheme speaks out after President Biden pardoned one of the men she accuses of k*lling her child.
Sandy Fonzo is famous for berating a judge for accepting kickbacks to send children to for-profit detention facilities.
Biden… pic.twitter.com/jVFXXWKKVn
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 13, 2024
Sandy Fonzo, a mother whose son committed suicide after being jailed under Conahan’s rulings, spoke out against Biden’s decision. “This pardon feels like a betrayal,” she said. “Families like mine are still struggling to cope with the damage he caused. The pain never truly goes away.”
The fallout from the scandal was devastating. Thousands of convictions were overturned, but for many families, the harm was already done. Victims suffered from emotional trauma, drug addiction and even suicide as a result of their wrongful detentions.
Biden slammed for commuting sentence of notorious ‘Kids-for-Cash’ judge convicted of imprisoning juveniles for $2.1M kickbacks https://t.co/7HpgWL2Ozu pic.twitter.com/n6hHxAJHU3
— New York Post (@nypost) December 13, 2024
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) criticized Biden’s clemency decision, calling it a “mistake that has caused unnecessary pain” in Pennsylvania. “This wasn’t just corruption,” Shapiro said. “It was a betrayal that tore families apart and left deep scars on our community.”
Adding to the controversy, Biden also commuted the sentence of Rita Crundwell, an Illinois official convicted of stealing over $53 million from her city. Critics argue these decisions send the wrong message, prioritizing leniency over justice for victims.
HEARTBREAKING moment Sandy Fonzo confronted a judge who was part of the kids-for-cash scheme where 2 judges were receiving millions of dollars to send kids to for-profit prisons.
Her son ended up committing suicide.
Biden just commuted the sentence of one of the judges.
Can… pic.twitter.com/pkylK7O8sY
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 13, 2024
For families impacted by the “kids-for-cash” scandal, the president’s actions have reignited old wounds, leaving many feeling justice was not served.
