Speaker of Va. House of Delegates Don Scott receives pardon from President Joe Biden
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, received a presidential pardon from United States President Joe Biden on Sunday. In a statement issued on Sunday, Jan. 19, Biden announced that he has used his clemency power to pardon five individuals who have demonstrated "remorse, rehabilitation, and redemption," which included Don Scott, the 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. "America is a country built on the promise of second chances. As President, I have used my clemency power to make that promise a reality by issuing more individual pardons and commutations than any other President in U.S. history," Biden said in his statement. According to the White House, Scott was previously convicted of a non-violent drug offense in 1994 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Since his release, Scott has practiced as an attorney and was elected to the Virginia legislature in 2019. Scott then became the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2024. According to the White House, Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran, also donated his kidney to his next-door neighbor in 2021. After the announcement of his presidential pardon on Sunday, Scott issued the following statement: “Today, I am deeply humbled to share that I have received a Presidential Pardon from President Joe Biden for a mistake I made in 1994—one that changed the course of my life and taught me the true power of redemption. “I want to begin by thanking President Biden for granting me this pardon and recognizing my journey of redemption. His commitment to second chances is truly remarkable, and he will undoubtedly be remembered as the President who championed redemption and transformation. His unprecedented efforts in issuing pardons and supporting individuals in rebuilding their lives cannot be understated. “After serving nearly eight years in federal prison for my actions, I came out determined to reshape my future. I was driven by faith, family, and the belief that a person’s worst mistake doesn’t define the entirety of their story. My journey—from being arrested as a law student to standing here today as the first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 405-year history—is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of second chances. Don Scott, 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Honoring Black History: Virginia’s First Black Speaker of the House of Delegates Scott goes on to say in his statement that for those who may feel like their mistakes define them, he wants them to know that it is possible to "rebuild and thrive." “This moment is not just about me. It’s about demonstrating that our nation can embrace the potential for change, for justice, and for redemption. It’s about what happens when we refuse to give up on each other," Scott said.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, received a presidential pardon from United States President Joe Biden on Sunday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Jan. 19, Biden announced that he has used his clemency power to pardon five individuals who have demonstrated "remorse, rehabilitation, and redemption," which included Don Scott, the 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
"America is a country built on the promise of second chances. As President, I have used my clemency power to make that promise a reality by issuing more individual pardons and commutations than any other President in U.S. history," Biden said in his statement.
According to the White House, Scott was previously convicted of a non-violent drug offense in 1994 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Since his release, Scott has practiced as an attorney and was elected to the Virginia legislature in 2019. Scott then became the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2024.
According to the White House, Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran, also donated his kidney to his next-door neighbor in 2021.
After the announcement of his presidential pardon on Sunday, Scott issued the following statement:
“Today, I am deeply humbled to share that I have received a Presidential Pardon from President Joe Biden for a mistake I made in 1994—one that changed the course of my life and taught me the true power of redemption.
“I want to begin by thanking President Biden for granting me this pardon and recognizing my journey of redemption. His commitment to second chances is truly remarkable, and he will undoubtedly be remembered as the President who championed redemption and transformation. His unprecedented efforts in issuing pardons and supporting individuals in rebuilding their lives cannot be understated.
“After serving nearly eight years in federal prison for my actions, I came out determined to reshape my future. I was driven by faith, family, and the belief that a person’s worst mistake doesn’t define the entirety of their story. My journey—from being arrested as a law student to standing here today as the first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 405-year history—is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of second chances. Don Scott, 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
Honoring Black History: Virginia’s First Black Speaker of the House of Delegates
Scott goes on to say in his statement that for those who may feel like their mistakes define them, he wants them to know that it is possible to "rebuild and thrive."
“This moment is not just about me. It’s about demonstrating that our nation can embrace the potential for change, for justice, and for redemption. It’s about what happens when we refuse to give up on each other," Scott said.
