By Michael Kelman Portney

Joe Biden’s decision to commute the sentence of Michael Conahan, the disgraced judge at the center of the infamous "Kids-for-Cash" scandal, isn’t just another misstep in an already lackluster presidency—it’s the exclamation point on a legacy of self-interest disguised as leadership. For those of us who survived the horrors of the troubled teen industry, this isn’t just offensive—it’s proof that Biden’s supposed empathy and decency were nothing more than a performance.

Let’s be clear: this was never about mercy, justice, or reform. This was Biden saying, “Screw you, it’s my show, and I’ll do what I want on the way out.”

Conahan’s Crimes: Profiting from Destroying Lives

Michael Conahan didn’t just fail in his duties as a judge—he actively conspired to destroy lives for profit. Alongside fellow judge Mark Ciavarella, Conahan orchestrated a scheme where kids were thrown into for-profit detention centers for minor infractions, often without legal counsel, in exchange for $2.8 million in kickbacks. Over 2,300 children were sentenced by these men. Thousands of juvenile convictions were eventually overturned, but not before families were ripped apart and children’s futures destroyed. Some, like Sandy Fonzo’s son, didn’t survive. He died by suicide after enduring the trauma inflicted by this system.

This wasn’t some bureaucratic error or a "mistake" in judgment—this was calculated evil. Conahan monetized the suffering of children, and now Joe Biden has handed him a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Biden’s Betrayal: A Legacy of Self-Interest

For someone who campaigned on empathy and “restoring the soul of the nation,” this act of clemency proves Biden’s leadership was always about one thing: himself. Biden didn’t commute Conahan’s sentence because it was the right thing to do. He did it because it cost him nothing. The victims of the “Kids-for-Cash” scandal—the children who were traumatized, the families who were shattered—don’t matter to Joe Biden. They never did.

This isn’t a complicated issue. There’s no nuance to weigh here. Conahan’s actions were indefensible. He abused his position to line his pockets at the expense of vulnerable kids. Commuting his sentence isn’t a gesture of mercy; it’s a grotesque insult to the survivors. Biden is essentially saying, “This man’s freedom is worth more than your pain.”

Why This Matters to Me—and Should Matter to You

As a survivor of the troubled teen industry, I know all too well what it feels like to be dehumanized and discarded by a system that prioritizes profit over people. Conahan’s crimes are emblematic of a broader, systemic rot that allows the most vulnerable among us—children—to be exploited with impunity.

The troubled teen industry and the for-profit juvenile detention system are two sides of the same corrupt coin. They thrive on the same logic: that kids, particularly the most vulnerable ones, are commodities to be controlled and exploited for financial gain. Biden’s decision to let one of its most notorious figures off the hook is a slap in the face to every survivor of these systems.

Biden’s Legacy: A Selfish Last Hurrah

This commutation isn’t some outlier; it’s the perfect encapsulation of Biden’s presidency. A leader who promised transformation delivered mediocrity. A man who marketed himself as a unifier leaves a trail of disillusionment. And now, on his way out, he’s given us one final “fuck you.”

Biden’s presidency will be remembered for its failure to meet the moment—a legacy defined by small compromises that benefited the powerful and ignored the vulnerable. The commutation of Michael Conahan is just the rotten cherry on top. It’s proof that Biden’s leadership was always performative, always hollow, and always about himself.

What We Do Now

If there’s any silver lining to this betrayal, it’s that it should ignite a fire in all of us. Survivors of the troubled teen industry, victims of corrupt systems, and anyone who believes in accountability need to speak louder than ever. Biden’s actions won’t go unnoticed—but neither will our resistance.

Joe Biden has shown us who he is: a man more interested in his legacy than in justice. It’s up to us to make sure history doesn’t forget what he chose to stand for—and who he chose to abandon.