President Biden's recent move to commute the sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates has been praised by some, while others have criticized it as unclear why the president made this decision in the first place. .
The president announced Monday that the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates will be changed to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and the White House said in a statement that Biden believes “the United States should end the death penalty.” Ta. At the federal level, except in cases of mass murder motivated by terrorism or hatred. ”
“When President Biden took office, his administration imposed a moratorium on federal sentences, and President Biden's actions today prevent the incoming administration from carrying out executions that would not be handed down under current policies and practices,” the White House said in a statement. I will do it,” he said.
The three death row inmates who did not meet Biden's requirements for commutation are: Robert Bowers, the Tree of Life synagogue shooter who killed 11 people in 2018; Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who murdered nine black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev worked with his late brother to carry out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people and injured hundreds.
Family of slain SC woman furious at Biden over commuter killer's death sentence: 'She had no mercy'
Robert Bowers, the Tree of Life Synagogue gunman who killed 11 people in 2018. Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who murdered nine black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev worked with his late brother to carry out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people and injured hundreds. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from left, Charleston County Sheriff's Office, FBI, via AP)
John R. Lott Jr., director of the Center for Crime Prevention Research and former chief economist at the U.S. Sentencing Commission in Washington, told Fox News Digital that Biden's decision to commute the death sentences of 37, but not all, federal death row inmates. He said the basis for his decision was as follows. 40 is still unknown.
“There were mass murderers whose sentences he commuted, but there were others who didn't commute their sentences but killed fewer people,” Lott said. “When I read his statement, I didn't understand what his basis was for splitting the case this way.”
“Even if he thinks the death penalty is wrong, it's not clear exactly where the line is drawn.”
Lott added that the president's decision to commute 37 sentences “may just be doing his own thing,” but that the families of the victims will suffer at the hands of people who are receiving life sentences instead. , noted that their loved ones have issued statements expressing how they were not spared. of death.
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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Brandon Bell)
“Many of these victims' families have pointed out that many of these murderers have shown no remorse for their crimes,” Lott added. “They carried out brutal rapes and torture. They killed many people in very gruesome ways.”
Criminal justice reform advocates applauded the move.
Biden announces commuting sentences of 37 death row inmates in final month in office
Matthew Mangino, a lawyer at Luxenberg, Garbett, Kelley & George and author of “The Executioner's Fee,” told Fox News Digital that Biden's commutation of the sentence was a sign of support for the death penalty. He said he thought it would be strengthened.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at St. Joseph of Brandywine Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware. (Ben Curtis)
“In a strange way, President Biden's bold use of his pardon power to prevent the systematic execution of federal death row inmates strengthens the case for the death penalty,” Mangino said. “He left three people on death row to face certain death.”
“Biden has made clear his disdain for the death penalty in general, but he believes it is necessary for some people, and his actions prove that.”
The United Women's Faith, the largest denominational organization for women, said in a press release that the organization understands “how the criminal justice system unfairly and unequally targets people of color,” Biden said. requested commutation of the sentences of all 40 federal death row inmates. ahead of Biden's decision on Monday.
After the president commuted 37 sentences, Emily Jones, racial justice director for United Women in Faith, hailed the move as “very inspiring and a true celebration of Advent!” said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
President Joe Biden speaks with reporters after voting early for the 2024 general election at a polling place in New Castle, Delaware, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Senator)
But Lott said death sentences often encourage criminals to admit their guilt to avoid death, allowing the government to avoid costly and emotionally taxing death penalty trials. Ta. Dylann Roof, one of the three federal inmates Biden decided to keep on death row, initially expressed interest in pleading guilty in a federal case to avoid the death penalty. Mr. Lott pointed out that
“Economists have looked at this extensively and found that, on average, each execution reduces the number of murders by about 8 to 18,” Lott said. “It is clearly related to the fact that [the death penalty] This will act as a deterrent against these guys. ”
Convicted murderers currently escaping execution include Marciewicz Barnett, who killed a man and his ex-girlfriend in a carjacking. Co-defendants Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fawkes kidnapped and murdered the woman after escaping from prison. Anthony Battle, who murdered a prison guard. Jason Brown stabbed a postal worker to death. Thomas Hager, who committed drug-related murders. David Runyon participates in a murder-for-hire plot against naval officers. Thomas Sanders kidnapped and murdered a 12-year-old girl. Rejon Taylor, who carjacked, kidnapped, and murdered a restaurant owner. and Alejandro Umana, who murdered two brothers inside a restaurant.
Kamala Harris currently serves as Vice President of the United States in the Biden-Harris administration. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
The list also includes people convicted of murdering witnesses, military personnel, bank employees, robbery employees and other federal prisoners. They include people convicted of drug-related murders and a man who ordered the killings of 12 people, including six family members of a federal informant.
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Biden faced criticism earlier this month when he commuted the sentences of about 1,500 inmates and pardoned 40 others who were on home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Including his son Hunter.
According to the Department of Justice, as of December 13, Mr. Biden had pardoned a total of 65 people and commuted the sentences of 1,634 prisoners during his term as president.
FOX News' Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
