Headline
Biden Grants Clemency to 37 Death Row Prisoners, Advocating for Abolition of Capital Punishment at the Federal Level
President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of almost all inmates on federal death row on a Monday morning, thereby hindering President-elect Donald Trump's plan to carry out capital punishment at the federal level again. Trump had pledged to resume executions.
Essential Details
Biden announced that he was commuting the sentences of "37 out of 40 inmates on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole."
This action was in line with the moratorium his administration had put in place on federal executions, except in cases related to "terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder."
Biden mentioned that his decision was guided by his "conscience" and he was strongly against the use of the death penalty at the federal level.
The White House declared that Biden's actions would prevent the incoming Trump Administration from carrying out the execution sentences that would not be given under current policy and practice.
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Crucial Quote
"Let me stress this: I condemn these murderers, mourn for the victims of their vile acts, and feel for all the families who've suffered unfathomable and irrevocable loss...In good conscience, I cannot stand by and allow a new administration to resume executions I halted," Biden's statement added.
News Hook
During his campaign, Trump expressed his intent to carry out executions of federal death row inmates. He also suggested expanding capital punishment to cover individuals convicted of crimes such as human trafficking, drug dealing, migrants who kill U.S. citizens, and anyone who kills a police officer. Apart from this, his campaign advocated for the expansion of the death penalty for convicted child rapists, despite a 2008 Supreme Court decision deciding it unconstitutional.
Key Background
Earlier this month, Biden granted commutations to around 1,500 people who were under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic—after being released from prison to lessen the virus's impact in jails. The commutations covered individuals who had served their sentences at home for at least one year. Biden also issued pardons for 39 individuals convicted of non-violent crimes, including drug offenses, who the White House said "have turned their lives around." This was the largest-ever single day act of clemency by a U.S. president.
Additional Reading
Biden Grants Clemency To Over 1,500 People (Our Website)
President Joe Biden's stance against the death penalty at the federal level was further emphasized when he commuted the sentences of all but three inmates on federal death row, converting their sentences to life sentences without the possibility of parole. This move directly contradicts Donald Trump's plan to resume federal death sentences upon taking office, as Biden believed it was crucial to prevent the incoming administration from carrying out executions that would not be allowed under current policy and practice.
