Biden Commutes Federal Death Sentences, Trump Criticizes Decision President Joe Biden has commuted the death sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, sparking criticism from former President Donald Trump and igniting a debate on criminal justice reform.
The decision, which aligns with Biden’s opposition to capital punishment, has drawn both praise and condemnation from various quarters. Biden’s commutations apply to all but three federal death row inmates, who will now serve life imprisonment without parole. The exceptions are Dylann Roof, Robert Bowers, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Biden justified his decision by citing a moratorium on federal executions, except in cases involving these specific crimes.
Trump, a staunch supporter of capital punishment, sharply criticized Biden’s move on his social media platform, Truth Social. He stated, “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country. When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!”
The former president vowed to reinstate and expand the federal death penalty if he returns to office. Trump pledged, “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!”
Biden’s decision has mixed reactions from victims’ families. Some, like Tim Timmerman and Heather Turner, expressed anger and disappointment over the commutations. Others, however, supported the move, believing it was the right choice. Anthony D. Romero of the ACLU praised Biden for moving away from what he described as “brutal and inhumane policies.” The president defended his actions, stating, “I cannot stand by and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” He added, “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss.”
"President Biden on Monday commuted the sentences of nearly all prisoners on federal death row, sparing the lives of 37 men just a month before Donald J. Trump will return to the Oval Office with a promise to restart federal executions." (via @nytimes) https://t.co/sPN4gGwdJA
— John Gramlich (@johngramlich) December 23, 2024
Biden’s decision follows appeals from various groups, including criminal justice advocates, former prosecutors, business leaders, and Pope Francis. However, it has faced criticism from political adversaries, law enforcement groups, and some victims’ families. Anti-death penalty advocates, while praising Biden’s actions, are urging him to commute all federal and military death row sentences.
The Rev. Sharon Risher, whose family members were victims of the Charleston shooting, called for Biden to extend mercy to all death row inmates. The contrasting stances of Biden and Trump on capital punishment highlight the ongoing debate surrounding criminal justice reform in the United States. As the country approaches the next presidential election, this issue is likely to remain a point of contention between the two political figures and their respective supporters.
