President Biden Mulls Commuting Federal Death Row Sentences
President Biden is contemplating the commutation of the sentences of almost all 40 men on the federal government’s death row as his term nears its end, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. This potential move could clash with President-elect Trump’s intentions to expedite executions upon taking office in January. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who supervises federal prisons, has purportedly suggested that Biden commute all but a few extreme sentences.
Possible Exceptions and Inmates Eligible for Commutation
Exceptions to this plan might include individuals like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber from 2013; Robert Bowers, responsible for the Pittsburgh synagogue attack in 2018; and Dylann Roof, who carried out the Charleston church shooting in 2015. Other federal inmates who may see their death sentences commuted to life in prison include a range of individuals with disturbing criminal histories.
Background and Presidential Influence
This potential action comes after Biden, a devout Catholic, recently conversed with Pope Francis, who publicly urged for the commutation of condemned American inmates. President Biden’s stance on capital punishment aligns with his campaign promises to advocate for the elimination of the death penalty at the federal level. Despite initial contemplation of an executive order in 2021, no such order was issued, and a temporary halt on federal executions was put in place for further evaluation under Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Implications and Decision Timeline
The outlet reports that a decision regarding the fate of the federal death row inmates could be made by Christmas. The most pressing question revolves around the extent to which these sentences will be commuted. President Biden’s potential action could mark a significant departure from previous administrations’ approaches to capital punishment at the federal level, setting a new precedent for future policies and practices. The ethical, legal, and moral implications of such a decision are vast, impacting not only the inmates on death row but also the broader justice system and society at large.
