Biden Commutes Sentences: Victims Feel Betrayed

In a move that's left many scratching their heads, President Biden commuted the sentences of thousands of federal inmates. He claimed they were convicted of non-violent drug crimes, serving excessively long sentences. But is that the whole story? Let's dive in. First off, who are these inmates? Well, one is Lairon Graham, a Buffalo man convicted of running a drug ring. Police found fentanyl, crack, and cash in his home, along with a firearm. That's not all, folks. This "non-violent drug dealer" also organized a sex trafficking ring, beating and threatening women to force them into commercial sex acts. Sounds pretty violent to us. His sentence was cut from 22 years to just 12½.

Then there's Valentino Shine, another Buffalo resident, convicted of sex trafficking and drug sales. He ran a trafficking operation out of his home, exploiting drug-addicted women and using beatings and drugs to control them. Three women died from overdoses under his watch. His sentence was reduced from 30 years to 18 years, 4 months. Lastly, Jaron Ruth, also from Buffalo, pleaded guilty to drug sales and possessing firearms. He was suspected of a murder but wasn't charged. His sentence was reduced from 10 to 7 years. Now, we can't help but wonder, did President Biden know the details of these cases? With 2, 500 inmates, it's hard to imagine he read every memo. But the real question is, what about the victims? Were they consulted? Notified? They deserve a say too, right? The White House touts these commutations as addressing racial injustice and reducing disparity in sentencing. But is it that simple? Many of these inmates have long, violent records. Are we sure they deserve this break?

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