Thursday, September 18, 2025
Smart Again
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Politics
  • Law & Defense
  • Community
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Smart Again
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Politics
  • Law & Defense
  • Community
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Smart Again
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Virginia Governor Criticizes Biden for Commuting Sentences of 2 Men

January 19, 2025
in Politics
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
0
Virginia Governor Criticizes Biden for Commuting Sentences of 2 Men
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


The governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, sharply criticized President Biden on Saturday for commuting the life sentences of two Virginia men who had pleaded guilty in connection with the killing of a police officer, saying in a phone interview that Mr. Biden had made the decision against the advice of one of the top federal prosecutors in the state.

Mr. Biden announced on Friday that he was commuting the sentences of 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Each of them, he said, was serving a disproportionately long sentence based on outdated guidelines. The grants of clemency marked the broadest commutation of individual sentences ever issued by an American president.

Among those whose sentences were commuted were Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, who were both arrested in 1998 and charged with murder in the killing of Allen Gibson, a police officer in Waverly, Va. Mr. Gibson was shot while pursuing suspected drug dealers. As part of a deal with local prosecutors, Mr. Richardson pleaded guilty in 1999 to a lesser felony charge of involuntary manslaughter and received a five-year sentence; Mr. Claiborne pleaded guilty to a related misdemeanor and was sentenced to time served.

The officer’s family and law enforcement officers in the state were outraged by the light sentences the men received. In 2000, federal prosecutors brought charges against Mr. Richardson and Mr. Claiborne, accusing them of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and murder in the killing of Mr. Gibson.

A jury acquitted the men of the murder, but it convicted them of the drug charges, putting the men on track for 10-year sentences. Then, at the sentencing, the judge concluded that they had participated in the killing and gave them life in prison.

For years, supporters of criminal justice reform have urged presidents to grant clemency to Mr. Richardson and Mr. Claiborne because, they have claimed, the men were not convicted of murder by a jury. Both men have denied killing Mr. Gibson.

But on Saturday, Governor Youngkin accused the Biden administration of a miscarriage of justice.

“This is a gross injustice and reflective of not only a Biden presidency and Justice Department who do not seek justice for victims, but are so wayward that they have forgotten what their duties are,” he said. “My heart breaks for the family of Officer Gibson, who was brutally murdered, and here they are having to live with this all over again.”

Mr. Youngkin said that the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jessica D. Aber, who was appointed by Mr. Biden, had strongly opposed the commutations and advised against granting them.

Ms. Aber’s opposition to the commutations is notable. Under the process used to vet clemency applications in the Biden administration, prosecutors are often consulted, and their opinions are given significant weight in deciding whether to ultimately grant clemency.

The White House did not respond to questions about Mr. Youngkin’s statement.

Criminal justice reform advocates have praised Mr. Biden’s use of clemency in the final days of his presidency. In announcing the commutations on Friday, Mr. Biden said that his decision was “an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

A commutation leaves a guilty verdict intact but reduces or eliminates the sentence.

The decision to bring a federal prosecution against the two men in 2000 after they had received a light sentence was seen as aggressive and unique. It was overseen by an up-and-coming Justice Department prosecutor named James B. Comey, who would go on to become the director of the F.B.I.

Matthew Cullen contributed reporting.



Source link

Tags: AmnestiesBidenCommutations and PardonsCommutingCriticizesGlenn AGovernorJoseph R JrmensentencesVirginiaYoungkin
Previous Post

The Free Press Crumbles As CBS Considers Bribing Trump With Lawsuit Payoff

Next Post

What Trump Could Do on Ukraine, Iran, China and Crises Around the Globe

Related Posts

ABC Disgracefully Caves To Trump And Suspends Jimmy Kimmel
Politics

ABC Disgracefully Caves To Trump And Suspends Jimmy Kimmel

September 17, 2025
Jasmine Crockett Completely Destroys Kash Patel To His Face
Politics

Jasmine Crockett Completely Destroys Kash Patel To His Face

September 17, 2025
The Trump administration’s latest power grab: your voter data
Politics

The Trump administration’s latest power grab: your voter data

September 17, 2025
Name the one political party led by those who call for violence
Politics

Name the one political party led by those who call for violence

September 17, 2025
Trump Is Epically Crashing And Burning: Here Is The Visual Proof
Politics

Trump Is Epically Crashing And Burning: Here Is The Visual Proof

September 17, 2025
Senate committee seeks intel on polluters’ efforts to kill critical EPA rule
Politics

Senate committee seeks intel on polluters’ efforts to kill critical EPA rule

September 17, 2025
Next Post
What Trump Could Do on Ukraine, Iran, China and Crises Around the Globe

What Trump Could Do on Ukraine, Iran, China and Crises Around the Globe

Late Night Music Club: Up To The Mountain, Patty Griffin

Late Night Music Club: Up To The Mountain, Patty Griffin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Two major trans narrative movies were released in 2024. The wrong one’s being talked about

Two major trans narrative movies were released in 2024. The wrong one’s being talked about

February 24, 2025
“Chasing relevance”: Maron sounds off on “desperate” Maher

“Chasing relevance”: Maron sounds off on “desperate” Maher

August 25, 2025
Barack, Michelle Obama address divorce rumors on “IMO” podcast

Barack, Michelle Obama address divorce rumors on “IMO” podcast

July 16, 2025
Destiny’s Child reunion a reality at Beyoncé’s final “Cowboy Carter” show

Destiny’s Child reunion a reality at Beyoncé’s final “Cowboy Carter” show

July 27, 2025
Manufactured Outrage Over Nova Scotia Wildfire Restrictions

Manufactured Outrage Over Nova Scotia Wildfire Restrictions

August 14, 2025
Trump’s immigration raids are now before the Supreme Court

Trump’s immigration raids are now before the Supreme Court

August 15, 2025
“They stole an election”: Former Florida senator found guilty in “ghost candidates” scandal

“They stole an election”: Former Florida senator found guilty in “ghost candidates” scandal

0
The Hawaii senator who faced down racism and ableism—and killed Nazis

The Hawaii senator who faced down racism and ableism—and killed Nazis

0
The murder rate fell at the fastest-ever pace last year—and it’s still falling

The murder rate fell at the fastest-ever pace last year—and it’s still falling

0
Trump used the site of the first assassination attempt to spew falsehoods

Trump used the site of the first assassination attempt to spew falsehoods

0
MAGA church plans to raffle a Trump AR-15 at Second Amendment rally

MAGA church plans to raffle a Trump AR-15 at Second Amendment rally

0
Tens of thousands are dying on the disability wait list

Tens of thousands are dying on the disability wait list

0
How to rediscover your creativity in 3 simple steps

How to rediscover your creativity in 3 simple steps

September 18, 2025
Democrats should play hardball in looming funding showdown

Democrats should play hardball in looming funding showdown

September 18, 2025
Hey, Trump: Stephen Colbert Got An Emmy And You Didn’t!

Hey, Trump: Stephen Colbert Got An Emmy And You Didn’t!

September 18, 2025
Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel

Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel

September 18, 2025
ABC pulls Kimmel off the air over Kirk comments

ABC pulls Kimmel off the air over Kirk comments

September 17, 2025
ABC Disgracefully Caves To Trump And Suspends Jimmy Kimmel

ABC Disgracefully Caves To Trump And Suspends Jimmy Kimmel

September 17, 2025
Smart Again

Stay informed with Smart Again, the go-to news source for liberal perspectives and in-depth analysis on politics, social justice, and more. Join us in making news smart again.

CATEGORIES

  • Community
  • Law & Defense
  • Politics
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

LATEST UPDATES

  • How to rediscover your creativity in 3 simple steps
  • Democrats should play hardball in looming funding showdown
  • Hey, Trump: Stephen Colbert Got An Emmy And You Didn’t!
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Smart Again.
Smart Again is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Politics
  • Law & Defense
  • Community
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Smart Again.
Smart Again is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Go to mobile version