In a move that perfectly encapsulates the disaster that has been Joe Biden’s presidency, the outgoing president granted clemency to Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, two men who admitted responsibility for the brutal 1998 murder of Officer Allen Gibson, a hero and dedicated servant to the community of Sussex County. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares were quick to condemn this shameful decision, which reeks of the kind of soft-on-crime policies that Democrats seem to wear as a badge of honor.
“I am beyond outraged and in utter disbelief,” Youngkin said, summing up what every sane American feels about Biden’s latest disgrace. “The pain and sorrow this clemency causes the Gibson family is unimaginable. To know that the men who took Officer Gibson’s life will walk free is not just a grave injustice—it is a heartbreaking blow to those who continue to mourn his sacrifice.” Youngkin’s office didn’t hold back, highlighting that even President Obama declined to grant clemency to these violent offenders, yet Biden thought it was somehow a great idea.
This is despicable. I’m beyond outraged and in utter disbelief that President Biden would announce clemency for these two violent criminals. https://t.co/QlxC2ruhK5
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) January 18, 2025
Miyares, never one to mince words, called Biden out directly, saying, “I’m outraged by Biden granting clemency to cop killers, forcing the fallen officer’s child, Crissana, to relive this trauma. Shame on you, Joe Biden and your enabling staff.” Crissana Gibson herself expressed heartbreak, saying, “My heart is shattered knowing that the men that killed my father are going to be released… This is a huge miscarriage of justice.”
I’m outraged by Biden granting clemency to cop killers, forcing the fallen officer’s child, Crissana, to relive this trauma.
Shame on you, Joe Biden and your enabling staff.
May the memory of Officer Allen Gibson & his family haunt each of you forever.https://t.co/Pc5zTeNnrQ
— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) January 18, 2025
The facts of the case are crystal clear. On April 25, 1998, Officer Allen Gibson, just 25 years old, went to work and never came home. Claiborne and Richardson, caught in the act of a drug deal, attacked Gibson, disarmed him, and used his own service weapon to end his life. Yet somehow, Biden saw fit to offer clemency to these men, ignoring the pleas of the Gibson family and the recommendation of his own U.S. Attorney.
This isn’t just bad policy—it’s a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer and their families. Biden’s last-minute spree of clemency grants—totaling nearly 2,500 inmates, including these two killers—shows a reckless disregard for justice and the safety of law-abiding Americans. While Democrats love to crow about “compassion” and “fairness,” they seem to have neither for the victims of violent crime or their grieving families.
Governor Youngkin called it “a grim day for justice,” and he’s right. Biden’s decision to prioritize criminals over victims is yet another reminder of why Americans overwhelmingly rejected his party’s failed policies in 2024. This is the Democratic Party in a nutshell: more concerned about the feelings of violent offenders than the lives of the innocent.
Thankfully, leaders like Youngkin and Miyares are standing firm, promising to continue the fight for justice. Biden’s presidency may be limping to its end, but the damage he’s done will take years to repair. Let’s hope President Trump and strong conservative leaders can clean up the mess and restore accountability, justice, and safety for American families.
