Analysis by major news outlets after the election or exit polls

Biden Commutes 37 Federal Death Row Sentences to Life, Drawing Criticism from Trump and Manchin

Dec 27, 2024, 05:53 PM

President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life without parole, marking a historic move in his administration. This decision was made just days before his term ends, and it follows a series of pardons and commutations for nonviolent offenders, as well as a pardon for his son. Biden's action is a direct response to the federal execution spree under former President Donald Trump, who oversaw the deaths of 13 prisoners in 2020. The commutations exclude three inmates: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Robert Bowers, and Dylann Roof, due to their involvement in terroristic violence and targeted mass murder. Biden's move has sparked criticism from Trump, who labeled the decision as nonsensical and devastating for victims' families. Additionally, Senator Joe Manchin has criticized Biden's commutations, particularly those of two men convicted of murdering Samantha Burns, calling the decision 'horribly misguided and insulting' to the victim's family. Despite the backlash, Biden's action has been supported by various advocacy groups and individuals, including those who believe it aligns with moral and religious principles.