Dec 27, 2024 Story by: Editor
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a historic decision, President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row, converting their punishment to life imprisonment without parole. The announcement, made weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, spares the lives of those convicted of various heinous crimes, such as the killings of police officers, federal personnel, and individuals during bank robberies or drug-related incidents.
This move leaves three federal inmates facing execution: Dylann Roof, responsible for the 2015 racially motivated massacre of nine Black church members in Charleston, South Carolina; Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who killed 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
“I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden stated. “Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
15 Black Individuals Among Biden’s Death Row Clemency
Among the 37 individuals whose sentences were commuted, 15 are Black, reflecting Biden’s acknowledgment of systemic racial biases in the application of the death penalty. Advocates argue that racial disparities in sentencing and an overrepresentation of Black individuals on death row highlight long-standing injustices in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Madeline Cohen, an attorney for Norris Holder, a Black man whose sentence was commuted, pointed to his case as emblematic of these disparities. Holder, convicted for the fatal shooting of a guard during a 1997 St. Louis bank robbery, was sentenced by an all-white jury. “His case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said.
Martin Luther King III praised Biden’s actions, stating, “The president has done what no president before him was willing to do: take meaningful and lasting action not just to acknowledge the death penalty’s racist roots but also to remedy its persistent unfairness.”
Reactions to the Decision
The announcement sparked intense debate. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Donald Trump, called the decision “abhorrent,” stating, “These are among the worst killers in the world, and this decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones.”
Heather Turner, whose mother was killed during a 2017 bank robbery, criticized Biden’s move, describing it as a “gross abuse of power.” On social media, Turner expressed her frustration: “The pain and trauma we have endured over the last seven years has been indescribable. Joe Biden’s decision is a clear gross abuse of power.”
Conversely, some victims’ families supported Biden’s decision to retain death sentences for specific individuals, like Dylann Roof. Michael Graham, whose sister Cynthia Hurd was one of Roof’s victims, emphasized Roof’s lack of remorse and the significance of his crime as an attack on Black Americans. “This was a crime against a race of people who were doing something all Americans do on a Wednesday night — go to Bible study,” Graham said.
Biden’s Stance on the Death Penalty
In 2021, Biden announced a moratorium on federal executions to review protocols but left open the possibility of the death penalty for terrorism and hate-motivated mass killings. However, Biden had previously promised to work toward abolishing federal executions entirely.
“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,” Biden said. “But guided by my conscience and my experience, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.”
The decision aligns with the Catholic Church’s long standing opposition to capital punishment. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops described the commutations as a “significant step toward advancing the cause of human dignity.”
Political Implications and Future Outlook
Biden’s announcement comes amid increasing pressure from advocacy groups and follows his commutation of sentences for 1,500 individuals released on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The president’s clemency actions, including the controversial pardon of his son Hunter Biden, have drawn both praise and criticism.
With Trump set to take office on Jan. 20, Biden’s actions reflect his efforts to ensure a lasting legacy on criminal justice reform. Trump has repeatedly voiced his support for expanding the death penalty, especially for drug dealers and smugglers, a position he reiterated during his 2024 campaign announcement.
During Trump’s first term, 13 federal executions occurred, the highest number under any president in modern history. Biden’s commutations aim to prevent a resurgence of federal executions under the incoming administration.
As Biden prepares for his final foreign trip next month, including a visit with Pope Francis, his decision underscores his commitment to aligning U.S. policies with the values of mercy and justice championed by the Catholic Church. Source: AP News
