Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares have sharply criticized President Biden's decision to grant clemency to Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, known as the "Waverly Two." These individuals were implicated in the 1998 killing of Sussex County police officer Allen Gibson.

Youngkin expressed outrage and disbelief, highlighting that Claiborne and Richardson admitted responsibility for Gibson's death. He emphasized the injustice of their release and the pain it inflicts on Gibson's family. The governor also noted that the U.S. Attorney advised against the clemency, recognizing the violent nature of the offenders.

Miyares echoed Youngkin's sentiments, condemning Biden's decision and expressing his commitment to seeking justice for Gibson's family. He shared a statement from Gibson's daughter, Crissana, who voiced her devastation and anger over the release of her father's killers. She criticized the Biden administration for failing her family and the law enforcement community.

On April 25, 1998, Officer Gibson, 25, was killed while on duty. He was shot with his own service weapon during an encounter with Claiborne and Richardson. While both men were acquitted of murder and firearms charges in federal court, they are serving life sentences for a drug trafficking charge related to the incident.

President Biden's clemency grants commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, aiming to address disproportionately long sentences. However, this decision, along with previous clemency grants including commutations for individuals on death row, has drawn bipartisan criticism.

This clemency decision has reignited the debate about justice, sentencing, and the president's clemency powers.