Action Taken to Prevent Trump’s Execution Policy
In a significant move towards the end of his term, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Monday the commutation of death sentences for 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. This decision comes as a direct response to the anticipated return of Donald Trump, who during his first term, significantly increased the number of federal executions.
Commutations Reflect Biden’s Stance on Capital Punishment
The commutations align with the moratorium Biden’s administration placed on federal executions, with exceptions for cases involving terrorism or hate-motivated mass murder. The 37 inmates will now spend the rest of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole. Biden stated, “These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
High-Profile Killers Remain on Death Row
Three notorious inmates will remain on death row: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, responsible for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; Dylann Roof, who murdered nine Black churchgoers in Charleston in 2015; and Robert Bowers, who carried out the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, killing 11.
Biden’s Moral and Policy Stance
Biden acknowledged the heinous nature of the crimes committed by those whose sentences he commuted, expressing grief for the victims and their families. However, he maintained his conviction against capital punishment, stating, “But guided by my conscience and my experience…I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.”
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Background on Trump’s Death Penalty Policy
Biden’s actions are set against the backdrop of Trump’s policy on capital punishment. Trump, who campaigned on expanding the death penalty, resumed federal executions in July 2020 after a hiatus since 2003. His administration executed 13 individuals by lethal injection in the last half-year of his term, marking the highest number of federal executions in over a century.
Current Status of the Death Penalty in the U.S.
The death penalty has been abolished in 23 states, with six others having moratoriums in place. In 2024, all 25 executions in the U.S. occurred at the state level, reflecting a patchwork of approaches to capital punishment across the country.
