Sanders Denounces Comparisons Between Trump and Biden Pardons

[Social Media]

 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has urged Americans to avoid equating the pardons issued by President Donald Trump with those of former President Joe Biden, emphasizing their significant differences.  

 

During an appearance on CNN’s *The Source* on Tuesday evening, Sanders discussed the wave of executive actions taken by Trump, including pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, and how some have drawn comparisons to the pardons issued by Biden before he left office. Host Kaitlan Collins questioned Sanders on the matter, particularly highlighting Biden’s controversial decision to pardon family members.  

 

“What I think is that he was worried that, given all of Trump’s rhetoric, that [Biden] was going to go after his family and close associates,” Sanders explained. “All right, that’s a concern, but don’t equate the two.”  

 

Sanders acknowledged that there is room for debate about whether Biden’s decision to preemptively pardon his family was right or wrong. However, he insisted that the move bore no resemblance to Trump’s actions. “It has nothing to do with what Trump did today,” Sanders stated firmly.  

 

Biden’s last-minute pardons of family members marked an unprecedented use of executive power, motivated by concerns over Trump’s threats of retribution during a potential second administration. The decision caused division among Democrats, with some supporting the pardons and others expressing disapproval.  

 

After assuming office, Trump acted quickly to pardon almost all the rioters who stormed the Capitol four years ago, a move that also faced intense scrutiny.  

 

Sanders criticized Trump’s decision, particularly given his public support for law enforcement. “To tell the entire world that we’re going to pardon people who attacked and hurt police officers is telling,” Sanders remarked. “I think that is a horrible message, and I strongly disagree with his pardoning of those insurrectionists.”  

 

He pointed out that he knows of no one in Biden’s family who attempted to overthrow the U.S. government. Sanders further condemned Trump’s actions, saying, “What Trump is saying to the world is that it is okay for you to attack police officers when you have a mind to do that. And I think that is an outrageous message to send to the world.”  

 

Sanders’ remarks underscore his deep concern about the implications of Trump’s pardons, contrasting them sharply with Biden’s controversial yet fundamentally different actions.

 

Based on a report by The Hill 2025-01-23

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

I used to think Bernie should have been POTUS, but apparently he's just as bad as any Democrat. He's right that they are not comparable, but not for the reasons he gives.

[JulesMad]

Bernie is the only American that I (remotely) trust. tRump is an ordinary criminal (convicted felon and rapist and fascist and non-human) who pardons his fellow criminals... An always lying, not-to-be-trusted, orange little man! It is extremely sad that so many americans are as stupid as their president 😥

[DD86]

3 hours ago, JulesMad said:

Bernie is the only American that I (remotely) trust. tRump is an ordinary criminal (convicted felon and rapist and fascist and non-human) who pardons his fellow criminals... An always lying, not-to-be-trusted, orange little man! It is extremely sad that so many americans are as stupid as their president 😥

Time to change your rethoric...yawn.

[SiSePuede419]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

I strongly disagree with his pardoning of those insurrectionists.

But MAGA criminals love it!

Every criminal hates cops. ✅

[Watawattana]

2 hours ago, DD86 said:

Time to change your rethoric...yawn.

Agreed.  He's been voted in following the long-used electoral system.  Love him or not he's here for the next 4 years, hope everyone enjoys the ride!

 

Well, Stormy might not... 🤪

[kimothai]

7 hours ago, JulesMad said:

Bernie is the only American that I (remotely) trust. tRump is an ordinary criminal (convicted felon and rapist and fascist and non-human) who pardons his fellow criminals... An always lying, not-to-be-trusted, orange little man! It is extremely sad that so many americans are as stupid as their president 😥

You didn't call Trump a Nazi!  Did you forget or are you starting to warm up to the Trumpster. 

[mogandave]

Look, Bernie’s doing the hail Hitler. He should be impeached.

[Skeptic7]

17 hours ago, DD86 said:

Time to change your rethoric...yawn.

Truth a tough pill for you to swallow, yeah? 

[Yagoda]

Bernie is a Socialist, so who cares what he says. Its always going to be Socialist garbage

[Purdey]

Andy Ogles has proposed a constitutional amendment to allow Trump to have a 3rd term.

More fun to come. 

[proton]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Bernie is a Socialist, so who cares what he says. Its always going to be Socialist garbage

 

He's has been socialist garbage, nobody cares what he says

[Gobbler]

Biden commuted this scumbag x judge's sentence. 

 

Read the clippings and tell me you're ok with this commutation. 

 

Judge Mark Ciavarella, Jr.
Mark Ciavarella, Jr., was a judge in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who presided over juvenile court. Born in 1950, he served as president judge of the county’s Court of Common Pleas and was known for his "zero-tolerance" approach to juvenile crime. However, his reputation unraveled when it was revealed that he and another judge, Michael Conahan, received $2.8 million in kickbacks from the owners of two private juvenile detention centers, PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care.
 

The Scandal and Conviction
From 2003 to 2008, Ciavarella sentenced thousands of children to private facilities for minor offenses, often bypassing proper legal procedures and denying them legal representation. Many of these children were first-time offenders, and the sentences were disproportionately harsh. The judges concealed their financial arrangements with the detention centers, ultimately leading to Ciavarella’s conviction on racketeering, conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering charges in 2011. He was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison.
 

Tragic Consequences
The fallout from the scandal was devastating:
   • Hillary Transue, a 14-year-old girl, was sentenced by Ciavarella to three months in detention for creating a MySpace parody of her school principal. This led to significant emotional trauma.
   • Ed Kenzakoski, a 17-year-old sentenced by Ciavarella for a minor infraction, struggled to rebuild his life after release. He eventually committed suicide at age 23.
   • Nefarious Impact on Families: Numerous families suffered emotional and financial devastation due to the judges' actions. The case highlighted systemic failures and the human toll of corruption.
 

Footnotes:
   • Ed Kenzakoski's Death: His story became emblematic of the case's tragic outcomes, as documented in the 2014 documentary Kids for Cash.
   • Broader Impact: More than 4,000 juvenile convictions were overturned, and Pennsylvania enacted reforms to prevent similar abuses.
 

The scandal remains one of the most egregious examples of judicial misconduct in U.S. history, showcasing the profound harm caused by corruption in the justice system.

[Gobbler]

One of you Biden sycophants should tell us all that this was a good thing. 

[DD86]

4 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Truth a tough pill for you to swallow, yeah? 

So now you are JulesMad?