Biden Commutes Death Sentences to Preempt Trump’s Planned Executions

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, in a historic move, commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates on Monday, converting their punishments to life imprisonment without parole. This decision, announced weeks before Donald J. Trump’s expected return to the White House, preempted the former president’s plan to resume federal executions.

The commutations apply to individuals convicted of murder, with three notable exceptions:

• Robert D. Bowers, responsible for the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh.
• Dylann Roof, who killed nine Black worshippers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.
• Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the perpetrators of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

These individuals remain on death row due to the hate-motivated and terrorism-related nature of their crimes.

Biden’s Opposition to Capital Punishment

Biden, who campaigned in 2020 on abolishing the federal death penalty, justified his decision based on his moral opposition to capital punishment.

“I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level,” he said. “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”

He emphasized that his administration’s standard spared executions in cases outside terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder while underscoring his condemnation of the crimes committed.

Reactions and Influences

Biden’s decision was met with a mixture of praise and criticism:

• Support from Civil Rights Groups and Faith Leaders: Advocates lauded the move as a step toward criminal justice reform. Pope Francis, who had recently spoken to Biden about the death penalty, also influenced the decision. Catholic bishops and victims’ families echoed the call for clemency.
• Criticism from Opponents: Some critics argued that the decision undermines justice for the victims of heinous crimes.

Donnie Oliverio, a retired police officer whose partner was killed by a death row inmate, supported Biden’s action. “The president has done what is right here, and what is consistent with the faith he and I share,” he said.

Contrast with Trump’s Approach

Biden’s clemency marks a sharp contrast to Trump’s policies. Trump restarted federal executions after a nearly 20-year pause, overseeing 13 executions in the last six months of his term. He has vowed to resume executions and expand the federal death penalty.

This divergence highlights the broader debate over the role of capital punishment in the U.S. justice system.

Legacy of Clemency

The commutations are among Biden’s most significant acts of clemency, following previous measures such as:

• Commuting sentences for 1,500 individuals during the pandemic.
• Pardoning federal marijuana possession charges.
• Addressing discriminatory sentencing laws affecting LGBTQ+ veterans.

While Democrats praised the progress, many urged Biden to extend clemency to those imprisoned under outdated drug laws and sentencing disparities.

Biden’s actions reflect his administration’s commitment to criminal justice reform, setting a precedent as his presidency comes to a close.