Biden commutes 37 federal death row sentences to life

Outgoing US President Joe Biden announced the commutation of 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, Anadolu Ajansı reported on Monday (December 23).

“Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole,” said Biden in a statement.

While expressing grief for the victims and condemning the crimes, Biden emphasized his moral conviction to end federal capital punishment.

“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss. But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level,” he said.

As US president-elect Donald Trump signaled to expand the use of capital punishment in his campaign period, Biden, in his statement, said: “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”

Earlier this month, Biden granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 people, as part of his broader efforts to provide second chances to those impacted by the criminal justice system.

Trump restarted federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021 after a nearly 20-year pause.

Biden, who ran for president opposing the death penalty, put federal executions on hold when he took office in January 2021.

In recent weeks, he has faced pressure from congressional Democrats, opponents of capital punishment and religious leaders such as Pope Francis to commute federal death sentences before he leaves.