On Tuesday, Donald Trump criticised Joe Biden for commuting the sentences of nearly every American federal prisoner on death row, as the president-elect prepared to succeed the Democrat in the White House.
On Monday, President Biden, who is in his final month in office, declared that he was converting the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates awaiting federal execution to life without the possibility of parole.
Nine individuals were convicted of murdering their fellow prisoners, four were convicted of murders committed during bank robberies, and one was convicted of killing a prison officer.
Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform, that “Joe Biden just commuted the death sentence for 37 of the worst killers in our country.”
“You will be astounded by the actions of each individual when you hear them,” he continued.
“It is illogical.” Families and acquaintances are additionally devastated. They are incredulous that this is transpiring.
Prior to his departure from the White House on January 20, Biden had implemented a moratorium on the federal death penalty. However, Republican President Trump had indicated that he intended to reinstate the practice. Consequently, Biden was under pressure to take additional action.
The decision excluded three men: a white supremacist who fatally shot nine Black churchgoers in 2015, a gunman who murdered 11 Jewish worshippers in 2018, and one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers.
Biden stated on Monday, “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, ache for the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss, and grieve for the victims of their despicable acts.”
“However, I am guided by my conscience and my experience…” I am more adamant than ever that the death penalty must be abolished at the federal level. I am unable to remain silent and permit a new administration to recommence executions that I had previously halted in good conscience.
