A burst of excitement at the Virginia home of House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) interrupted a quiet Sunday morning scene, as Speaker Scott and his wife, Mellanda, simply sipped their coffee while preparing for church.
A White House advisor informed Scott that President Joe Biden was granting him a pardon for a 1994 federal crime related to drugs. Scott, who is 59, had spent over seven years behind bars before rebuilding his life and eventually achieving the milestone of being the first African American to hold the position of speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, which has operated for more than 400 years.
The pardon granted by Biden – given the day before he was scheduled to leave office – marked a new high point in Scott’s path back, according to Scott, who spoke with The Washington Post just a short while after receiving the call.
He couldn’t believe it, and it made all the hard work and sacrifices him and his family had made worthwhile.
When Scott made history by becoming speaker last year, Biden phoned to offer his congratulations, Scott said. “It’s remarkable to have him also be the one to issue a pardon for me,” Scott said.
On Sunday, President Biden granted pardons to Scott, as well as four others. He also had the sentences of two people commuted. Those receiving a pardon were a historic figure from the civil rights movement, Marcus Garvey, who passed away in 1940 after being found guilty of mail fraud in 1923, and Kemba Smith Pradia, of Ashburn, Virginia, a prominent activist for prison reform, who was convicted of a non-violent drug-related offense in 1994.
“When praising the latest actions, President Biden noted in a Sunday morning statement, ‘America is a country that values second chances.’ He highlighted the positive impact of the clemency recipients, explaining they’ve all made substantial contributions to their communities in meaningful ways.”
Scott’s unusual rise to prominence as a political force in Virginia has been bolstered by support from both sides of the aisle. It was a Republican, former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell, who reinstated Scott’s eligibility to vote roughly 10 years ago. More recently, Democratic Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott – who is not related to the House speaker – began encouraging Scott to apply for a federal pardon, according to Scott himself. However, Scott declined.
He had already gone through the state application process, and he didn’t want to go through it all over again only to be denied.
At last year’s Democratic National Convention, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia began showing interest in the application, explained Scott. With additional pressure coming from Senator Mark R. Warner of Virginia, Scott decided to submit his application in October.
In a statement on Sunday, the White House cited Don Scott’s supporters as saying his “commitment to public service, his deep regret, and his persistent efforts to make a positive impact on those in his community” are particularly noteworthy.
Rep. Bobby Scott stated that he has personally spoken with Biden about offering a clemency to Don Scott, who he said “has demonstrated integrity, responsibility, and a commitment to upholding the law. … He has not taken his second chance for granted. His case shows that our justice system should focus on rehabilitation and making amends. I am pleased that President Biden understands this and has granted Speaker Scott a well-deserved pardon.”
Born in Houston, Scott was a Navy veteran and law student in Louisiana when he was apprehended by federal authorities while in possession of money linked to a known drugs dealer.
Following his release from prison, Scott pursued a career in business, got married, and relocated to Virginia, where he decided to sit for the state bar exam in 2014. Two years later, he established his law practice in Portsmouth and was elected to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2019. His ability to think on his feet and deliver influential arguments earned him the respect of his Democratic colleagues, who selected him as speaker just three years into his tenure.
He consistently gives credit to his mother, who held multiple low-paying jobs to provide for him and his five siblings, for instilling in him the spiritual resilience to cope with his incarceration. As soon as he received the news from the White House on Sunday morning, he phoned her first.
He cried while talking about it; he was that upset.
Scott and his wife attended church services, where the pastor brought up the news and referenced a Bible passage in Romans, saying, “All things work together for good for those who love God.” On his phone, Scott received a flood of congratulatory messages from members of both political parties.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, surprised everyone by forming a close friendship with Scott, and on Saturday, he sharply criticized President Biden. Youngkin was upset that Biden had commuted the sentences of two men from Virginia who were found innocent of murdering a police officer in 1998, but were later given lengthy prison terms for drug charges after a federal judge expressed his belief that they were truly responsible for the murder. The two men had previously pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter as part of a plea deal, however, they later claimed their innocence.
The governor expressed his full support and admiration for Scott only on Sunday.
Don Scott’s remarkable journey of faith and family, his unwavering determination to forge a new path for himself and his ultimate success in doing so, serve as a truly inspiring model for everyone.
Scott had not been aware of Youngkin’s comments prior to being informed by a journalist. Although Scott and Youngkin sometimes attend Bible study together and share a fondness for Dr Pepper, their shared rapport doesn’t stop Scott from frequently taking a jab at his political opponent.
Scott asked if there was talk about restoring voting rights, noting that Virginia is the only state that removes the right to vote from anyone convicted of a felony, forcing them to apply to the governor to get it back. Scott has led Democrats in pushing for a constitutional amendment this year to automatically restore voting rights, and he criticized Youngkin for having a significantly lower restoration rate than other recent governors.
There are many others who share my feelings, all hoping for a second opportunity,” he said, “and he has the capacity to provide it.
