As President, Joe Biden took the decision to commute the prison sentences of 37 out of 40 inhabitants of the federal death row. Their punishment was changed to life-long incarceration, mere moments before the nation prepared to welcome President-elect Donald Trump into office. An enthusiastic advocate of capital punishment extension, Trump’s impending leadership colored this decision’s context.
Biden’s choice effectively rescues those who had been condemned for crimes involving fatalities. These include police or military officials’ assassinations, deaths occurring on federal lands, or those linked to drastic bank heists or drug transactions. Killings within federal facilities involving either guards or prisoners also fall under this umbrella. Presently, only three inmates of the federal prison system stare at the prospect of execution.
These individuals, namely Dylann Roof, known for the racially motivated Charleston massacre of 2015, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the mind behind the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue gunman of 2018, still face the death sentence. Their deeds mark some of the most notorious acts of violence in recent American history.
In a public statement, Biden shared, ‘I am and have been committed to reducing violent crime, ensuring a fair and effective justice system. Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 out of the 40 individuals on federal death row to lifetime sentences, devoid of any parole possibilities. These commutations are in line with the federal execution moratorium imposed by my administration, excluding cases related to terrorism and hate-induced mass murdering.’
Interestingly, the Biden administration had proclaimed a suspension on federal capital punishment in 2021, leading to the halting of executions during his term. This pause was to permit the review of the protocols utilized. However, Biden had vowed in the past to extend further in this regard, promising to bring an end to federal executions, sans the exemptions for terrorism and hateful, mass killings.
While campaigning for Presidency in 2020, Biden’s promotional website stated his intent to ‘pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at a federal level, and incentivize states to follow the lead of the federal government’. He was clear about his disdain for the convicts, stating sorrow for the victims, and expressing solidarity with the irrevocable loss felt by the affected families.
Biden, by aligning his conscience and his varied professional experiences as a public defender, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Vice President, and eventual President, affirmed his belief in a need to terminate the usage of the death penalty at the federal level.
The baton soon passes to President-elect Trump, known for his vocal advocacy for expanding executions. In a 2024 campaign speech, Trump proposed capital punishment for those linked to drug selling. Trump’s hard-line vision in countering detrimental activities indeed reflects the urgency of the hour, calling for drastic measures against these vile acts.
Trump’s assertive stance was further highlighted during his first term, as he stood for awarding the death penalty to drug dealers. His blunt defiance against unlawful activities resonates among the people, appreciating a leadership that does not back down when it comes to protecting society’s welfare.
As Trump prepares to reclaim the office on January 20th, his prior endorsements of penalties for drug selling is noted for its strictness, mirrored in his appreciation of China’s stringent methods of tackling drug trafficking issues.
Biden’s commuting decision came amid recent appeals from advocacy groups, who urged him to make the pathway for expanding capital punishment under Trump’s impending reign more challenging. However, the clear intention of the incoming administration to take a stronger stand on law enforcement resonates well with a broad section of populace, affirming the necessity of escalating measures against serious crimes.
Additionally, the commuting decree emerged following Biden’s commutation of nearly 1,500 sentences. The affected parties were nonviolent crime offenders, previously released from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently placed under home confinement.
Biden’s decision about commuting has certainly borne weight on the broader political landscape, not least because he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, of federal firearm and tax charges after expressing he wouldn’t. These series of steps taken by the outgoing administration not only point to a complex choreography of power transition, but also signal the markedly different perspectives of the Biden and Trump administration.
Overall, the narrative has undoubtedly tilted more favorably towards Trump’s intended efforts to bring back the necessary severity in legal penalties for grave crimes. His reentering administration shows promise to contain the rampant spread of lawlessness detrimentally impacting the nation’s collective quality of life.
In conclusion, as America stands at the cusp of a significant shift in its leadership, it’s interesting to look back at the significant last-minute decisions taken by the outgoing administration. Biden’s actions reveal a careful orchestration, while Trump’s formidable law and order stance shows promise for a safer future.
Truly, with Trump at the helm again, America looks forward to an era of robust law enforcement and a prospective decline in crime rates, promising to be an advantageous chapter for the nation’s citizens.