
In one of his last moves as president, Joe Biden commuted the federal sentence of Adrian Peeler, a man convicted in connection with the 1999 killings of an 8-year-old boy and his mother in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The commutation has been widely criticized as a blow to the families of the victims and a failure of justice.
Peeler’s role in the murders of Leroy “B.J.” Brown and Karen Clarke shocked the community over two decades ago. Acting under the orders of his brother, Russell Peeler, Adrian was part of a plot to silence the young boy, who had identified Russell as a shooter in a prior case. The killings, carried out inside the victims’ home, spurred the creation of Connecticut’s witness protection program.
Double murderer Adrian Peeler will be released this year thanks to Biden. He shot a 7 year-old in the back of the head and riddled his mom with lead. We need common sense criminal control. https://t.co/DUXZdmM6H8
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) January 27, 2025
Initially sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to commit murder and a concurrent 35-year federal sentence for drug trafficking, Peeler had been scheduled to remain in federal custody until 2033. Biden’s decision to grant clemency reduces his sentence significantly, with release now set for July 2025. This abrupt reduction has drawn outrage from victims’ advocates and state officials.
As the Senator alluded to, Connecticut created an entirely new witness protection program as a result of Adrian Peeler executing the son and his mother in their home – to cover up a different murder as a part of his drug ring.
Biden set this man free, effective July. pic.twitter.com/jwK2vD9iMa
— Max Meyer (@mualphaxi) January 26, 2025
Senator Richard Blumenthal, who was Connecticut’s Attorney General at the time of the murders, expressed disbelief at the decision. “This was a heinous crime that led to crucial reforms. It is unconscionable that clemency was granted in this case,” Blumenthal said. Other officials, including Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, echoed these sentiments, calling the clemency “a grave mistake.”
A drug dealer murdered a mother and her 8 year old as they witnessed his crimes.
He was in federal prison on drug charges.
According to the ACLU, Reason, and Cato, he was a "non-violent drug offender."
Now he's free.
Great job weed heads.https://t.co/f0aSfPcYC0
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) January 28, 2025
The killings left a lasting mark on Bridgeport, with a park and mural dedicated to B.J. Brown. The tragic case also resulted in enhanced protections for witnesses, especially children. However, Biden’s commutation has reopened wounds for the victims’ families, with Clarke’s brother Oswald saying the decision retraumatized them.
Adrian Peeler was the farthest thing from a "nonviolent drug offender." This is yet another sobering example of the irresponsible and incompetent leadership from the Biden administration.
And now a drug trafficker who murdered a young boy and his mother is due to be set free. https://t.co/3UsvNTx9Ps
— CTGOP (@CTGOP) January 27, 2025
Despite widespread criticism, Biden defended his clemency actions as part of broader criminal justice reform, stating they focused on individuals serving disproportionate sentences. Federal prosecutors in Connecticut, however, revealed they were neither consulted nor informed of the commutation beforehand.