JUST IN: President Biden Commutes Sentences of 37 Federal Death Row Inmates

In a landmark decision, President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 inmates on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This move, announced on Monday, December 23, 2024, marks one of the most significant actions against capital punishment in recent presidential history.

Key Points of the Decision

• The commutations apply to all but three of the 40 inmates currently on federal death row.
• The three exceptions are individuals convicted of terrorism or hate-motivated mass killings.
• This action aligns with the Biden administration's moratorium on federal executions, implemented in 2021.

Exceptions and Reasoning

President Biden did not commute the sentences of:

1. Robert Bowers, responsible for the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh
2. Dylann Roof, convicted for the 2015 Charleston church shooting
3. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing

The President stated that these exceptions are consistent with his policy of maintaining the death penalty for cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass killings.

Biden's Statement

In his announcement, President Biden emphasized: "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 loss1."He further explained that his decision was guided by his conscience and experience, expressing his conviction that the use of the death penalty at the federal level must be stopped.

Implications and Context

This decision comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an advocate for expanding capital punishment, is set to take office. Biden's action ensures that these commutations cannot be reversed by the incoming administration. The move has been praised by various groups, including former corrections officials, who view it as a courageous decision that will benefit many within the federal Bureau of Prisons. As the United States continues to grapple with the complex issue of capital punishment, President Biden's decision represents a significant shift in federal policy, potentially influencing future debates on the death penalty at both the federal and state levels.