President Joe Biden Announces Commutations for 37 People on Federal Death Row
President Joe Biden announced Monday that he is taking 37 people off federal death row to serve out life sentences behind bars, leaving only three federal prisoners awaiting execution. The decision is part of Biden’s moratorium on federal executions, which has been in place since his administration began.
Biden did not commute the sentences of three people whose crimes included mass shootings or acts of terrorism, including Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Dylann Roof, and Robert Bowers. Instead, the commutations were given to individuals convicted of less high-profile offenses, such as murders tied to drug trafficking or the killings of prison guards or other inmates.
Biden’s move has been criticized by Trump’s transition team, which described it as an “abhorrent decision” that benefits “among the worst killers in the world.” Trump had previously indicated that he would restart federal executions and expand the pool of crimes eligible for capital punishment if he returns to the White House.
The announcement comes as opponents of the death penalty are bracing for Trump’s return to the White House. During the 2024 campaign, Trump indicated he would work to expand the pool of crimes eligible for capital punishment and restart federal executions.
Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of the 37 individuals was praised by opponents of the death penalty, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which had been urging Biden to take action. The organization described the move as an “opportunity to make history by addressing the racist and unjust federal death penalty system.”