Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s latest clemency spree has turned into a spectacle that would make Oprah proud. Forget about Hunter Biden; this time, the Commander-in-Chief decided to dish out reduced sentences like they were free samples at a Costco. The rationale from the White House was a lofty one, claiming the administration was tackling “sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.” Of course, the term “non-violent” seems to have more flexibility than a yoga instructor at a retreat.
It is worth noting that among the categories of “non-violent offenders” was Virginia Gray, whose claims to fame include the not-so-trivial accomplishment of murdering three people. Apparently, between 1974 and 1996, she managed to turn her relationships into a fatal series of unfortunate events—all while pocketing a cool $165,000 from insurance settlements. It seems that Biden’s clemency was blind to the notion that Gray’s career choices might qualify her for something a bit harsher than a slap on the wrist.
Biden’s team insists that the clemency grants aimed to rectify “historical injustices” around outdated laws. It’s a nice narrative, but it falls apart when one considers that the White House is effectively letting loose a convicted murderer back into society. The irony is palpable: Biden, who prides himself on championing justice, just hands a vicious criminal a ticket back into the world. If reintegrating non-violent criminals is the goal, surely a serial killer doesn’t fit the bill, no matter how many Pinterest boards featuring “Second Chances” she might have.
One of Biden's 'Non-Violent' Pardons Turns Out to Be Voodoo-Practicing Triple-Murderer via @WestJournalism https://t.co/cI16vJthSO
— Janice Estes (@JaniceE68021752) December 23, 2024
One would think that a prosecutor handling such cases would be infuriated, and they are. Former U.S. attorney James Trusty expressed that Biden’s actions counter the narrative of clemency being reserved for non-violent offenders. Trusty’s frustration is justified, particularly when looking at Gray’s history of intimidation, including bizarre voodoo threats against witnesses. One has to wonder if the Biden administration thinks adding a sprinkle of spooky magic makes everything groovy.
But this cavalcade of questionable pardons doesn’t stop there. Biden also cheerfully released numerous other characters not typically associated with non-violent crime. For instance, one recipient was a doctor who diluted chemotherapy drugs—a move that could easily be seen as more harmful than helping. Meanwhile, the “emotions” of victims who might have crossed paths with those released seems to be little more than background noise to Biden’s grand plans.
As America watches this unfolding drama, it’s hard not to feel a sense of impending doom—or at the very least, incredulity. The risk of unleashing not-so-great actors back into society seems to be overlooked in the name of reform. There’s a profound message buried beneath all this clemency rhetoric: in the Biden administration, “justice” may just be a matter of picking favorites, whether they wield a paintbrush or a poison. If this is the way forward, the nation should brace itself for some cinematic twists that make horror movies feel like children’s cartoons.
