Biden commutes majority of federal death row sentences
President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates, replacing their capital punishment sentences with life imprisonment without parole. The decision, announced in a statement from the White House, reflects Biden’s longstanding opposition to the death penalty and comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office in January. Trump had previously resumed federal executions during his presidency.
Among the inmates spared the death penalty are individuals convicted of crimes ranging from murdering fellow prisoners and prison guards to committing fatal acts during bank robberies. However, three inmates—Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof, and Tree of Life synagogue shooter Robert Bowers—were excluded from the commutations and remain on death row.
Biden emphasized his belief that the federal death penalty must be abolished, describing its continued use as morally indefensible. He also stated that his decision aims to prevent a future administration from reinstating executions that had been paused under his leadership. The Justice Department imposed a moratorium on federal executions shortly after Biden took office.
The commutations have sparked a mix of relief and frustration. Billie Allen, who spent 27 years on federal death row after being convicted of killing a security guard during a Missouri bank robbery, expressed gratitude for the clemency. Speaking from Terra Haute prison in Indiana, Allen said the decision brought “great relief” to those who had been living under the constant shadow of execution. He also acknowledged the pain of victims’ families, urging them to find solace in the potential for inmates to strive for personal reform.
However, Heather Turner, whose mother was killed during a bank robbery in South Carolina, expressed anger and disappointment. She described Biden’s decision as “politically motivated” and accused him of disregarding the suffering of victims’ families. Turner emphasized her belief that the death penalty represents justice for heinous crimes and criticized the timing of the announcement, calling it “gut-wrenching” during the holiday season.
The president’s decision drew criticism from Republicans, with Senator Tom Cotton accusing Democrats of siding with criminals over victims. While the clemency cannot be reversed by a future administration, Biden’s move has reignited debates over the role of capital punishment in the U.S. justice system. Currently, the death penalty has been abolished in 23 states, while six others have moratoriums in place. State courts, which account for over 2,200 death row inmates, remain unaffected by Biden’s action.
Trump, who oversaw 13 federal executions in the final six months of his presidency, has indicated plans to expand the use of the death penalty, including for drug traffickers and certain migrants. Biden appeared to address this in his statement, underscoring his commitment to preventing the resumption of executions under a new administration.
The announcement follows a broader clemency initiative by Biden earlier this month, which included the commutation of nearly 1,500 sentences and 39 pardons for non-violent offenders. Among those pardoned was Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of tax charges and illegal possession of a firearm earlier this year.
As the debate over the death penalty continues, Biden’s decision highlights the ongoing divide in the U.S. over issues of justice, punishment, and morality.