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From showcasing hometown pride to causing local outrage, President Joe Biden’s connection to Scranton, Pennsylvania, has taken a dramatic turn following his controversial pardon decision.

The issue stems from Biden’s recent pardon of Michael Conahan, a former Luzerne County Judge implicated in a notorious cash-for-kids scheme. Pennsylvania State Representative Brenda Pugh, a Republican, has responded by demanding the removal of Biden’s name from local expressways, including one christened in his honor by the Scranton City Council in 2021.

According to PAHomepage, Conahan’s conviction stemmed from accepting kickbacks while sending juveniles to detention facilities for minor infractions or even no crimes at all.

“Conahan’s conduct is forever a blight on Pennsylvania and is a slap in the face to the victims and their families who deserve justice to be served for his atrocious crimes,” Pugh wrote, per PAHomepage.

“His clemency places complicity and a stamp of approval on his behavior,” she continued. “Children are among the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. This decision is nothing short of a travesty and his clemency is a miscarriage of justice.”

The backlash extends beyond Republican circles. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his disapproval of Biden’s decision, highlighting its impact on northeastern Pennsylvania.

“I’ll offer these thoughts as an outsider, not privy to all the information he looked at, but I do feel strongly that President Biden got it absolutely wrong and created a lot of pain here in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said last week, per the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

“Some children took their lives because of this. Families were torn apart,” Shapiro said of the original scandal. “There was all kinds of mental health issues and anguish that came as a result of these corrupt judges deciding they wanted to make a buck off a kid’s back.”

The pardon controversy adds to mounting criticism of Biden’s presidency, including concerns about economic management, international conflicts, and questions surrounding his family’s foreign business dealings. Critics argue that these issues, combined with the controversial pardon, make his namesake honors increasingly inappropriate for local infrastructure.

The situation represents a significant shift in Scranton’s relationship with its previously celebrated native son, suggesting that public tributes should reflect ongoing conduct rather than historical connections.