Scott Applauds Biden for Latest Clemency Actions

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on this morning’s clemency actions announced by President Biden. Of the five pardons and two commutations issued by the President today, three are individuals Congressman Scott personally advocated for to the White House.

 “As President Biden ends a historic term as our nation’s president, I am pleased to see this morning’s announcement that he issued pardons for Don Scott, Jr., Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, and Kemba Smith Pradia, as well as a commutation for Michelle West. I personally weighed in with President Biden and the White House on each of these clemency applications over the last several months.

“Don Scott’s path to redemption is a truly remarkable story. Don will be the first to admit that he made a life-changing mistake as a young man, and since his incarceration, he has exemplified integrity, responsibility, and fidelity to the law. After reentering society, he joined a workforce development company rising to the position of vice president, he sat for the bar and opened his own law practice, and got involved in his community. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2019, elected Minority Leader in 2022, and unanimously elected Speaker in 2023 – the first African American to hold the position in our Commonwealth’s history. He never took his second chance for granted. His story demonstrates what the goal of our justice system should be – rehabilitation and restorative justice. I am pleased that President Biden recognizes this and has given Speaker Scott a well-deserved pardon.

“Kemba Smith Pradia is someone I have known for nearly 30 years. As a student at Hampton University, she unwittingly became marginally involved in her then-boyfriend’s drug conspiracy. With her unjust sentence of 24.5 years, Kemba became the poster child of what is commonly referred to as the ‘girlfriend problem’ – where someone, usually a woman in a relationship with a drug trafficker, is held liable for the entire quantity of drugs charged in the conspiracy. And ironically, that girlfriend usually ends up being sentenced to a lengthier prison term than the actual operators of the drug conspiracy because they are unable to provide substantial assistance to the prosecution to reduce their sentence. This is what occurred in Kemba’s case. In the late 1990s, I advocated on her behalf to have her sentence commuted by President Clinton, which he did in 2000 after she had served approximately six years. Since that time, Kemba has become a model citizen. She finished her college degree, was appointed by Governor McAuliffe to the Virginia Sentencing Commission, and by Governor Northam to the Virginia Parole Board. She has dedicated her career to the pursuit of justice and to reform our criminal justice system, and has testified before Congress and the United Nations. I am pleased that President Biden has finally put this chapter in her life behind her by granting her a full presidential pardon.

“Michelle West is in her early 60s now and has served 30 years of a federal mandatory life sentence. The granddaughter of sharecroppers, and the granddaughter and daughter of U.S. Army Veterans, she had no criminal history prior to her federal case. She was charged with drug conspiracy, money laundering, and aiding and abetting a role in a drug-related homicide. The individual that pulled the trigger was given total immunity for the homicide and ultimately served only 15 months. Ms. West had no history of violence or use of firearms. The victim’s daughter as well as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan have called for Ms. West’s immediate release. Ms. West’s case is a horrific example of how mandatory minimum sentences are counterproductive and unjust. I applaud President Biden for commuting her sentence and recognizing that Ms. West has rehabilitated and can now positively contribute to our society.”

To read a copy of Congressman Scott’s letter on behalf of Don Scott, Jr., please CLICK HERE.

To read a copy of Congressman Scott’s letter on behalf of Kemba Smith Pradia, please CLICK HERE.

To read a copy of Congressman Scott’s letter on behalf of Michelle West, please CLICK HERE.

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