Following President Biden's pardon of a judge involved in the "kids-for-cash" scandal, several Pennsylvania officials, especially those from Biden's hometown of Scranton, are urging the city to reverse its 2021 decision to name an expressway after him.

State Representative Jamie Walsh initiated the movement, criticizing Biden's pardon of former Judge Michael Conahan, who was convicted in a scheme where he accepted bribes for sentencing juveniles to for-profit prisons. Walsh emphasized the lasting impact of Conahan's actions on the victims, some of whom were convicted of minor offenses. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned thousands of juvenile convictions linked to the scandal.

The expressway, formerly known as the Central Scranton Expressway, was renamed the President Biden Expressway in 2021. It serves as a short bypass off Interstate 81 and continues through downtown Scranton. Walsh urged Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and city officials to remove Biden's name from the expressway.

State Rep-elect Brenda Pugh also condemned the pardon, labeling it a "travesty" and stating that the President Biden Expressway would serve as a permanent reminder of the scandal. State Senator Doug Mastriano expressed his disapproval, citing Biden's pardon and what he called a "failed presidency."

Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak wrote to Mayor Cognetti, suggesting that reverting the name change would demonstrate the city's commitment to ethical governance and restore public trust. Mayor Cognetti acknowledged the negative impact of the pardon on Scranton's reputation, referring to it as a "grave error." She stated that she had voiced her concerns to the White House but was informed that the commutation was irreversible. Cognetti, who became mayor following the resignation of her predecessor due to corruption charges, maintained that calls to remove Biden's name from the expressway are primarily politically motivated. She emphasized Scranton's pride in being the president's hometown and expressed her belief that the two issues should be considered separately.

Governor Josh Shapiro, while acknowledging the president's power to grant pardons, criticized Biden's decision, stating that he believed it was a mistake that caused significant harm to northeastern Pennsylvania.

The controversy surrounding the pardon and the calls to remove Biden's name from the expressway highlight the ongoing debate about presidential pardons and their impact on public perception.