Biden commutes sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates
[b]CBS News[/b
President Biden is granting clemency to 37 of the 40 federal inmates facing death sentences, commuting their sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The three inmates who didn't receive clemency are the convicted murderer in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, the gunman at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, and the surviving Boston Marathon bomber.
[b]The announcement is sure to spark partisan debate, even though presidential commutation and pardon power are broad, constitutionally enshrined and irreversible.
The Justice Department instituted a moratorium on executions in 2021 so it could review policies and procedures.
Trump communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement that those whose sentences were commuted "are among the worst killers in the world," adding, "this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones." President-elect Trump has said he would resume executions and perhaps attempt to expand the crimes that qualify for capital punishment. On Truth Social Tuesday, Trump said that as soon as he is in office, he will "direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters."[/b]
Mr. Biden appeared to allude to Trump's stated intention in a statement announcing the commutations when [b]he said, "In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted."
He also said,"These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.[/b]
President Biden is granting clemency to 37 of the 40 federal inmates facing death sentences, commuting their sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The three inmates who didn't receive clemency are the convicted murderer in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, the gunman at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, and the surviving Boston Marathon bomber.
[b]The announcement is sure to spark partisan debate, even though presidential commutation and pardon power are broad, constitutionally enshrined and irreversible.
The Justice Department instituted a moratorium on executions in 2021 so it could review policies and procedures.
Trump communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement that those whose sentences were commuted "are among the worst killers in the world," adding, "this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones." President-elect Trump has said he would resume executions and perhaps attempt to expand the crimes that qualify for capital punishment. On Truth Social Tuesday, Trump said that as soon as he is in office, he will "direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters."[/b]
Mr. Biden appeared to allude to Trump's stated intention in a statement announcing the commutations when [b]he said, "In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted."
He also said,"These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.[/b]
