Official announcement from the White House or Department of Justice

Biden Considers Commuting Sentences of 40 Federal Death Row Inmates to Life Without Parole by Christmas, Including Tsarnaev and Roof

Dec 21, 2024, 12:34 AM

President Joe Biden is reportedly considering commuting the sentences of most, if not all, of the 40 men currently on federal death row. This potential decision, which could be announced before Christmas, would convert their death sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. High-profile inmates affected by this consideration include Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and Dylann Roof, responsible for the Charleston church shooting. The move is seen as a response to pressure from a coalition of religious and civil rights groups advocating for clemency. Additionally, it may complicate the plans of President-elect Donald Trump, who has indicated intentions to accelerate federal executions, a practice that was prevalent during his first term. Reports suggest that Biden's administration is weighing this decision in light of the potential implications for future federal execution policies.