Staff Reports
Joe Biden has long touted his Scranton, Pennsylvania roots, but those roots are looking rather more tangled these days—thanks to his recent decision to pardon a former judge who turned the juvenile justice system into a cash-making scheme. The city affectionately known as the Electric City is dimming its lights, and the locals are feeling more than a little miffed. Perhaps the only spark left is the collective outrage over the decision that has politicians scrambling to distance themselves from the president.
Enter Brenda Pugh, the newly elected Republican State Representative from Pennsylvania, who is leading the charge against any semblance of Biden’s legacy in Scranton. She has called for the immediate removal of Biden’s name from expressways that were once proudly labeled in his honor. This plea comes in light of Biden’s decision to grant clemency to Michael Conahan, a judge who was convicted for accepting kickbacks in exchange for throwing innocent kids behind bars for minor infractions—essentially turning a blind eye to justice for a handful of bucks.
Pugh didn’t mince words when discussing the president’s actions. She labeled the pardon as a disgrace, claiming it not only tarnishes Biden’s legacy but makes a mockery of the victims and families affected by Conahan’s deplorable actions. In her opinion, the renaming of the “President Joe Biden Expressway,” initially dedicated to the commander-in-chief by the Scranton City Council back in 2021, is a no-brainer. After all, one must wonder if some kid’s misfortune should forever be linked with Biden’s name on a road sign.
Even Biden’s pals in the Democratic party are not shy about their disappointment. Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro has publicly criticized the president, expressing that he made a grave mistake with this pardon. With the statement that Biden created a great deal of pain in the community, Shapiro paints the picture of a far worse scandal than some might have realized. It’s hard to argue against the notion that some children’s tragic fates were directly thrust upon them by corrupt individuals looking to line their own pockets.
"Looks like Scranton is finally waking up from its Biden-induced slumber! After his latest blunder—pardoning a judge from the cash-for-kids scandal—locals are demanding his name be scrubbed from landmarks. Guess the ‘Scranton Joe’ narrative doesn’t hold … https://t.co/AcK7aoXTuV
— NahBabyNah #Trump (@NahBabyNah) December 21, 2024
Renaming highways isn’t the only issue at stake. There’s a real question here about character. Highways named for championing transparency and accountability seem out of place in a situation clouded by corruption and greed. Biden’s mismanagement extends far beyond this one decision—it’s entwined with a record of failing economic policies and a global approach that leaves many shaking their heads.
In a society where names are given on expressways based on merit and integrity, it begs the question whether Biden’s name deserves any such honor amid the overwhelming evidence of questionable decision-making and a track record riddled with stumbles. In short, it’s time to reassess who gets honored along these roadways, especially when there are growing concerns over the kind of legacy one is leaving behind. It just might be time to give Scranton a highway that truly honors those who uphold justice instead of undermining it.
