Virginia's Republican Governor, Glenn Youngkin, has expressed vehement disapproval of President Joe Biden's decision to grant clemency to Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, two individuals he described as "violent criminals" implicated in the killing of a police officer.
Youngkin's outrage was palpable as he declared himself "beyond outraged" at the President's decision.
As reported by Breitbart, Youngkin's indignation was further fueled by the fact that the Biden administration had been advised against commuting the sentences by the U.S. Attorney. The Governor's press release on Saturday highlighted that the advice was disregarded, a move he found "even more unconscionable."
The Governor's statement underscored that both Claiborne and Richardson had confessed to their role in the "brutal killing of Officer Allen Gibson in Sussex County Circuit Court." Despite their admission, the pair were acquitted of the 1998 murder of Officer Gibson, a Sussex County police officer, as per WRIC News. The news outlet also reported that although the men were acquitted by a federal jury, they were handed a life sentence in 2001 when tried for a related drug charge.
In a twist of legal proceedings, the men received a life sentence for a drug charge related to the murder case. A legal analyst had previously told 8News that cross-referencing an acquitted charge when sentencing was a "miscarriage of justice," a practice he had never witnessed before.
Governor Youngkin's statement expressed his disbelief and outrage, stating, I am beyond outraged and in utter disbelief that President Biden would announce clemency for Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardsontwo men who admitted for being responsible to brutally killing Officer Allen Gibson. What makes this even more unconscionable is the Biden U.S. Attorney advised the White House not to commute these sentences as they are violent offenders.
Youngkin further empathized with the Gibson family, highlighting the unimaginable pain and sorrow this clemency decision inflicts on them. He lamented, To know that the men who took Officer Gibsons life will walk free is not just a grave injusticeit is a heartbreaking blow to those who continue to mourn his sacrifice. This is despicable; a grim day for justice and for the families who trust that our system will hold the guilty accountable.
This criticism from Youngkin came in the wake of Biden commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals. Breitbart News had earlier reported that in December, Biden had pardoned 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of almost 1,500 others.
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