Biden Commutes 37 Federal Death Sentences to Life, Trump Vows to Reinstate Death Penalty

Dec 24, 2024, 07:56 PM

President Joe Biden has commuted the death sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without parole, a move that aligns with his administration's moratorium on federal executions except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. The commutations include individuals convicted of heinous crimes, such as Kaboni Savage, who was sentenced for the murder of 12 people, including four children, in a drug trafficking-related plot. The decision has sparked a range of reactions from victims' families, with some expressing anger and disappointment over the timing and nature of the commutations. Biden's action comes as he nears the end of his term, and it has been criticized by President-elect Donald Trump, who vows to reinstate and vigorously pursue the death penalty upon taking office. The three inmates whose sentences were not commuted are Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Robert Bowers, and Dylann Roof, all convicted of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murders.