Biden Commutes Federal Death Sentences Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment, reducing the number facing execution to three. This decision, made shortly before President-elect Donald Trump's term, aligns with Biden's longstanding opposition to capital punishment and follows a moratorium on federal executions.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Washington DC | Updated: 23-12-2024 15:52 IST | Created: 23-12-2024 15:48 IST
Biden Commutes Federal Death Sentences Ahead of Trump's Inauguration
US President Joe Biden. (File Photo/Reuters) Image Credit: ANI
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President Joe Biden announced on Monday a historic decision to commute the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, converting their punishments to life imprisonment. This announcement comes mere weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an advocate for capital punishment, takes office.

Among those spared are individuals convicted of serious offenses, ranging from the slayings of law enforcement officers to high-profile cases involving federal facilities. Only three inmates, including Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, remain on federal death row.

This move underscores Biden's commitment to reducing violent crime and reforming the justice system, consistent with his administration's moratorium on federal executions. The president emphasized his stance by stating, "We must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level."

(With inputs from agencies.)

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