President Joe Biden made a controversial decision recently regarding the federal death row inmates. He chose to commute the sentences of 37 out of 40 individuals who were facing execution, instead sentencing them to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This move came as a surprise to many, especially to the families of the victims of these inmates.
Biden justified his decision by stating that his experience and conscience led him to believe that the death penalty should be abolished at the federal level. He highlighted his various roles in public service, including being a public defender, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, as factors that influenced his stance on this issue.
In addition, Biden mentioned that he did not want the incoming administration, led by President-Elect Donald Trump, to resume executions that he had previously halted. This decision seemed to be partially motivated by a desire to prevent a proponent of capital punishment from reinstating the practice.
