Biden Commutes Sentences of Dozens on Federal Death Row, Excludes High-Profile Terrorists and Hate Crime Perpetrators

Washington, D.C. — In a bold move that reinforces his campaign stance, President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 inmates on federal death row, converting their penalties to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This decision marks a significant shift in federal death penalty policy as Biden seeks to end its use at the national level.

The three inmates not granted clemency include high-profile cases such as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, responsible for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. Robert Bowers, who murdered 11 Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh in 2018, also remains on death row.

Biden’s actions come as a prelude to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who previously resumed federal executions and has hinted at expanding the death penalty’s reach. Meanwhile, Biden stated his administration could not “stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted,” emphasizing a clear policy departure from his predecessor.

Among those receiving clemency are individuals convicted of severe crimes, including those who murdered fellow inmates and a prison guard. Despite their grim offenses, Biden stressed, “I condemn these murderers and grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, but we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.”

The decision has stirred various reactions, encapsulating the nation’s complex and divided views on justice and retribution. Billie Allen, who spent 27 years on death row for killing a security guard during a bank robbery but maintains his innocence, expressed relief, suggesting the commutation would allow inmates to strive for personal improvement.

Conversely, Heather Turner, whose mother was a victim in the South Carolina bank robbery, voiced profound frustration and sadness, arguing that the penalty of death was a deserved justice for the convicted murderer, making Biden’s decision especially difficult for her family to accept during the holiday season.

Critics, including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., have lambasted Biden’s move as placing political interests over public safety and decency. Cotton expressed his disdain on social media platforms, accusing Democrats of consistently siding with criminals over victims and undermining public order.

Biden’s decision aligns with a broader shift in the national landscape regarding capital punishment, where 23 states have abolished the death penalty, and a federal moratorium is in place since Biden took office. Nonetheless, the act of clemency does not affect inmates sentenced to death in state courts, which is significantly larger in number and remains unaffected by federal policy adjustments.

Throughout his incumbency, Biden has utilized his constitutional powers to alter the life trajectories of many, including issuing pardons and commutations for non-violent offenses, reflecting a shift towards rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Such actions culminated earlier this month with nearly 1,500 sentence commutations and 39 pardons, highlighting a sustained commitment to criminal justice reform.

The president’s recent commutations underscore the ongoing debate over the role of the death penalty in American justice and its moral implications. This dialogue continues to unfold as the nation grapples with issues of fairness, effectiveness, and humanity in capital punishment practices.