The hosts of Fox & Friends Weekend voiced their apprehension regarding President Joe Biden’s recent decision to commute the sentence of a judge linked to the infamous “kids for cash” scandal. Michael T. Conahan, a former judge from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was one of the 1,500 individuals whose sentences were commuted by Biden this week. In addition, the president issued 39 pardons to non-violent offenders.
Conahan has attracted significant attention due to his pivotal involvement in the “kids for cash” scheme, where he accepted kickbacks from private prisons in return for sentencing juveniles to detention facilities. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) condemned President Biden’s decision concerning Conahan, asserting at a recent event that Biden was “absolutely wrong” in this instance. The White House indicated that Conahan qualified for sentence commutation based on his home confinement status during the COVID pandemic. Convicted in 2011 and originally sentenced to over 17 years in prison, Conahan is now a free man.
On Fox News Saturday morning, columnist Salena Zito discussed Conahan’s actions with Will Cain, characterizing the situation as a “profound scandal” in Pennsylvania. Zito emphasized the tragic repercussions of Conahan’s misconduct, including the heartbreaking suicide of a young man who had been sentenced to a juvenile detention center as part of his scheme.
Zito remarked, “This had a devastating impact on families.” Sandy Fonzo, the mother of a young man who tragically took his own life, expressed in a statement regarding President Biden’s actions, “Conahan’s actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son’s death serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the repercussions of his abuse of power.”
On Saturday, Fox co-host Carley Shimkus stated, “There are real consequences for what this individual did in attempting to profit from the lives of children.” Co-host Kevin Corke added, “It is utterly repugnant. When she described it as vulgar, that sentiment resonates deeply with many Pennsylvanians. Even those outside the Keystone State, upon hearing this story—especially with coverage from major networks—can see the callousness of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us.”
He further emphasized, “We are discussing children here, and to exploit them for financial gain is simply unacceptable.”
President Biden faced significant criticism, including from members of his own Democratic Party, after he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, late last month, despite previously asserting he would not do so. Following the pardon, special counsel David Weiss unexpectedly filed a motion in the California federal court overseeing Hunter Biden’s tax case, urging the judge to maintain the charges.
The pardon, effective from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024, encompasses Hunter Biden’s June jury-trial convictions for providing false information on a federal form regarding his drug use while purchasing a firearm. It also includes his September conviction on nine counts related to his failure to pay over $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019.
The eldest son faced a potential sentence of up to 17 years in prison due to his tax-related offenses.
Hunter Biden asserted in a statement accompanying his pardon announcement, “The charges against me arose solely because several political adversaries in Congress incited these actions to undermine my election and target me.”
In a court document submitted to a federal district court in California, Weiss stated, “There has never been any evidence to support claims of vindictive or selective prosecution in this matter.”
He further noted, “The defendant [Hunter Biden] made similar unfounded allegations in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, which were also dismissed.”
Weiss emphasized that “a total of eleven different federal judges, appointed by six different presidents, including his father, have reviewed and rejected the defendant’s assertions, including those regarding selective and vindictive prosecution.”
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