Fox News hosts criticized President Joe Biden for commuting the sentence of Michael T. Conahan, a former Luzerne County, Pa., judge convicted in the infamous “kids for cash” scandal. Conahan, who received kickbacks for sentencing juveniles to detention centers, was among 1,500 individuals granted commutations this week, alongside 39 pardons for non-violent offenders.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called Biden’s decision “absolutely wrong,” while the White House cited Conahan’s home confinement during COVID as a factor in the commutation. Conahan, sentenced in 2011 to over 17 years, is now free.
Pittsburgh columnist Salena Zito condemned Conahan’s actions on Fox News, describing the scheme’s devastating impact, including a young man’s suicide linked to his unjust sentencing. Sandy Fonzo, the victim’s mother, called Conahan’s actions a tragic abuse of power.
Fox co-hosts decried the decision as “beyond disgusting,” emphasizing the harm caused to vulnerable children. Biden also faced backlash for recently pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, whose convictions for tax evasion and lying on a federal form had drawn political and legal scrutiny. Federal prosecutors denied claims of selective prosecution in Hunter’s case.
