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President Biden’s latest move to commute the sentences of 37 of 40 death row inmates has been praised by some and others. also criticize It is unclear why the president made the decision in the first place.
The president announced on Monday that Thirty-seven federal death row inmates will have their sentences commuted to life without the possibility of parole. The White House said in a statement that Biden believes “America must stop using the death penalty in courts. federal level Except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
“When President Biden takes office His administration has temporarily suspended federal executions. And his actions today will prevent the next administration from carrying out his death sentence. This would not be conveyed under current policy and practice,” the White House said.
Three death row inmates who do not meet Biden’s requirements for a commutation include Robert Bowers, the Tree Synagogue gunman who killed 11 people in 2018; Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed a priest. Nine blacks at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. South Carolina in 2015; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who worked with his now-deceased brother in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that left three people dead and hundreds injured.
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Robert Bowers, the Tree of Life Synagogue gunman who killed 11 people in 2018; Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. South Carolina in 2015; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who worked with his now-deceased brother in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that left three people dead and hundreds injured. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from left, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, via AP)
John R. Lott Jr., president of the Crime Prevention Research Center and former chief economist of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in Washington, told Fox News Digital that Biden’s reasons for deciding to cut The death sentences for 37 federal death row inmates, more than 40 total, remain unclear.
“There were mass murderers whose sentences were commuted. But there are others. That was less murder than his refusal to commute his sentence,” Lott said. “When I read his testimony, I am not clear what his reasons are for dividing the case.”
“If he thinks the death penalty is wrong. It is not clear where the line is.”
Lott added that the president He “just played with his base” in deciding to commute 37 sentences, but noted that victims’ families had shared statements showing that their loved ones had suffered no mercy at the hands of those serving prison sentences. Life in prison instead of death
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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on stage on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago. Illinois (Brandon Bell)
“The families of many of these victims…suggest that a number of killers have shown no remorse for their crimes,” Lott added. “They engaged in brutal rape and torture. They killed a number of people in a very gruesome way.”
Criminal justice reform advocates praised the move.
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Matthew Mangino, an adviser to Luxenberg, Garbett, Kelly and George and author of “The Executioner’s Toll,” told Fox News Digital he thinks Biden’s reshuffle strengthens arguments in favor of the death penalty.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive in St. Petersburg. Joseph at Brandywine Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., on Wednesday, Dec. 1, Nov. 18, 2024. (Ben Curtis)
“In a strange way. President Biden’s bold use of clemency authority to prevent the systematic execution of federal death row inmates. “He allowed three men on death row to face certain death,” Mangino said.
“In general, Biden has revealed that he despises the death penalty, but he believes it, and his actions prove it. The death penalty is necessary for some people.”
United Women in Faith, the largest women’s denominational organization called on Biden to commute the sentences of all 40 federal death row inmates, saying their organizations understand that “How the criminal justice system unfairly and unevenly targets people of color,” according to a press release. Ahead of Biden’s Monday decision
After the president commuted 37 sentences, Emily Jones, racial justice executive at United Women in Faith, praised the move. “So exciting — what a blessing of Advent!” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
President Joe Biden talks to reporters after voting early for the 2024 general election on Monday, Oct. 10, Sept. 28, 2024, at a polling place in Newcastle, Del. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Seneta)
However, Lott said the death penalty often inspires criminals to confess their crimes to avoid death. This allows the government to avoid expensive and emotionally taxing death penalty trials. Dylann Roof is one of three federal prisoners Biden has decided to maintain the death penalty for. He initially expressed interest in pleading guilty in the federal case to avoid the death penalty, Lott said.
“Economists have looked at this extensively. and found that on average For each execution that took place You’re going to see about eight to eighteen homicides down,” Lott said. “It obviously has to do with the fact that (The death penalty) is a deterrent to these people.”
Convicted murderers who will now escape execution include Marcivicci Barnette, who killed a man in a carjacking and his ex-girlfriend; Co-defendants Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks, who kidnapped and murdered a woman after escaping from prison; Anthony Battle, the murderer of a prison guard; Jason Brown, who stabbed a postal worker to death; Thomas Hager, who committed drug-related murder; David Runyon, who participated in a murder-for-hire plot for a Navy officer; Thomas Sanders, who kidnapped and murdered a 12-year-old girl, Rejon Taylor, who hijacked a car, kidnapped and murdered a restaurant owner, and Alejandro Umana, who murdered two brothers in a restaurant.
Kamala Harris is currently the Vice President of the United States. In the Biden-Harris administration (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
The list also includes people convicted of witness murder. Military service member bank officer and employees during the robbery and other federal prisoners The same is true for those convicted of drug-related murders. and one man who ordered the murders of 12 people, including the family members of six federal informants.
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Biden faced criticism earlier this month. when he commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 prisoners who had been confined to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. and pardoned another 40 people Including Hunter His son also
As of Dec. 1, as of Sept. 13, Biden has pardoned a total of 65 people and commuted the sentences of 1,634 prisoners during his time as president. According to the Ministry of Justice
Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
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