Former President Donald Trump's team has sharply criticized President Biden's decision to commute the death sentences of 37 federal inmates to life imprisonment without parole. Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, labeled the move a "disrespectful act towards the victims, their families, and those who cared about them." He emphasized the contrast between Biden and Trump's approaches to criminal justice, stating that Trump "champions the rule of law," a principle he believes will be reinstated upon his return to the White House.
The White House explained that Biden's action aims to align federal death penalty practices with his administration's policy, which reserves capital punishment for acts of terrorism and hate-motivated crimes. The commutations effectively prevent a future administration from carrying out executions under previous guidelines. The victims of these 37 individuals included law enforcement officers, children, and fellow inmates. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) voiced his disapproval on social media, calling Biden's decision an "insult" to the victims and their families, a sentiment shared by many other Republican lawmakers.
Three notorious criminals whose death sentences remain unchanged are Robert Bowers (responsible for the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting), Dylann Roof (perpetrator of the 2015 Charleston church shooting), and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing). Biden stated his intention to prevent the resumption of executions under a new administration, saying he couldn't "in good conscience" allow a reversal of his policy. This decision follows Biden's commutation of sentences for nearly 1,500 prisoners on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and pardons for 40 individuals, including his son, Hunter. The White House highlighted that Biden has granted more sentence commutations at this stage of his presidency than any recent predecessor. In contrast, Trump has advocated for stricter application of the death penalty, including for drug dealers.
