In a landmark decision, President Biden utilized his clemency powers on Monday to commute the sentences of 37 out of 40 men on federal death row, marking a significant stance against capital punishment in recent presidential history.
The commutations did not extend to three individuals associated with terrorism or heinous crimes, specifically Robert Bowers, Dylann Roof, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, all of whom have been convicted for their involvement in mass shootings and attacks that resulted in substantial loss of life.
In a statement, Biden expressed that these actions align with his administration’s 2021 moratorium on federal executions, emphasizing, “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.” He reinforced his belief that the death penalty should be abolished at the federal level.
Biden further indicated that the potential actions of the incoming Trump administration played a role in his decision, stating, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”
In response, President-elect Donald Trump criticized Biden’s clemency actions, asserting that he would instruct the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty aggressively upon taking office to protect American families.
The list of commuted sentences includes notable cases such as former New Orleans police officer Len Davis, convicted of hiring a hitman, and Brandon Council, who was found guilty of murdering two women during a bank robbery.
Biden’s Commitment to Ending the Death Penalty
Biden’s actions come after advocates and religious leaders, including Pope Francis, urged him to use his pardon power to address this issue. Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, hailed Biden’s decision as a pivotal moment in the fight against the flawed application of the death penalty in America.
Biden had previously vowed during his 2020 presidential campaign to eliminate the death penalty, yet legislative efforts in Congress saw little progress. His recent commutations surpass those of past Democratic presidents, with Obama commuting only two death sentences and Clinton one.
The clemency announcements also follow a wave of pardons issued by Biden for nonviolent offenders and those impacted by the pandemic’s home confinement measures. This move comes amidst increased scrutiny over his recent actions related to his son, Hunter Biden, regarding his legal issues.
