Staff Reports
Locals in Scranton, Pennsylvania, are calling for a significant dose of reality in response to President Joe Biden’s dubious decision to pardon a former judge involved in one of the most sickening cash-for-kids scandals the state has ever seen. That scandal, which funneled thousands of juveniles into for-profit prisons for the crime of being young and reckless, has now cast a shadow over Biden’s legacy, prompting local officials to demand that his name be scrubbed from the expressway that was previously honored with his moniker.
Republican State Rep. Brenda Pugh has taken up the mantle against this ongoing injustice. She is urging city leaders to remove Biden’s name from the expressway that now feels more like a highway to hypocrisy than a tribute to respectable service. Pugh didn’t mince words when underscoring the disgrace that Biden’s pardon represents, issuing a scathing critique that resonates with those who see this not just as a political issue but as a moral travesty. After all, when a president gives a get-out-of-jail-free card to a judge who profited from ruining countless lives, it’s hard to see how any honorific stays intact.
Officials from Joe Biden’s birthplace, Scranton, is demanding that his name be removed from a local landmark following his controversial decision to pardon a federal judge involved in a cash-for-kids program.
(Article below) pic.twitter.com/Ybu7Lf9Sof— Jake H (@jake22_h) December 23, 2024
This situation isn’t merely a case of Biden being out of touch; it’s a slap in the face to victims and their families who still bear the scars of Conahan’s decisions. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court famously stepped in after exposing the unscrupulous dealings of Judge Michael Conahan, and it threw out nearly 4,000 juvenile cases as a result. Thanks to these questionable actions, many children who deserved compassion found themselves imprisoned for offenses that would make most parents chuckle nervously—like jaywalking. Pugh’s statements reflect the sentiment that Biden’s clemency for Conahan adds a stamp of approval on despicable behavior that has victimized the most vulnerable in society.
Adding fuel to the fire, even the state’s Democrat Governor Ben Shapiro weighed in, which speaks volumes. He described the president’s pardon as entirely wrong, highlighting the catastrophic mental health fallout from Conahan’s corrupt system. The consequences of this sordid tale echo through families that have been irrevocably torn apart while some children tragically took their own lives as a direct result of the torment they faced. With such distress surrounding this issue, many residents of Scranton find it increasingly difficult to want their roads named after someone who now feels more like a cautionary tale than a celebrated leader.
In 2021, amidst the political and social posturing that characterized Biden’s presidency, the local city council previously voted to name parts of the Central Scranton Expressway after him. Back then, it probably felt like a harmless nod to hometown pride, but the current fallout has turned that gesture into an eye-roll moment at best and a full-blown embarrassment at worst. The disconnect between Biden’s high-minded ideals and the reality of his actions—actions that have sparked outrage and demands for name removals—couldn’t be more pronounced.
Scranton’s residents are now left to grapple with the fact that honorifics based on character should have representation of integrity. This situation demands a clear message: if someone has failed to uphold the values of justice and empathy for our youth, maybe they shouldn’t have a street named after them. Removing Biden’s name from the expressway might be the first step in restoring dignity to a community that has been damaged, proving that accountability in leadership isn’t merely a nice idea—it’s a necessity.
