A spokesman for President-elect Trump suggested against it on Monday President BidenThe decision to commute the death sentences of 37 inmates on federal death row called the move “a slap in the face to the victims, their families and their loved ones.”
In a brief statement, Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, noted Biden and Trump’s different approaches to crime.
“They are among the worst murderers in the world and this despicable decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families and their loved ones,” he said in a statement. “President Trump represents the rule of law that will return when he is back in the White House after being elected with a massive mandate from the American people.”
BIDEN SET RECORD WITH CLEMENCY FRIENDSHIPS FOR FIRST TERM. Here’s how other presidents fare
Social media erupted Monday after President Biden announced he would commute the sentences of nearly all inmates on federal death row. (AP)
The White House announced Monday that Biden would commute the death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The 37 men’s victims include police officers, children and other inmates.
“Biden’s decision is a slap in the face to the victims and the victims’ families who thought justice would be served,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., wrote on X.
Many other Republican lawmakers echoed the same reactions.
Biden believes the federal death penalty should only be used for acts of terrorism hate-motivated killingsthe White House said.
“When President Biden took office, his administration imposed a moratorium on federal executions, and his actions today will prevent the next administration from carrying out execution sentences that would not be imposed under current policies and practices,” the White House said.
“SQUAD” WELCOMES BIDEN FOR SPARING MURDERERS FROM THE “RACIST” DEATH PENALTY IN THE 11TH HOUR MERCY
Three federal inmates whose death sentences were not commuted are Robert Bowers, who is responsible for the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue that left 11 people dead; Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who killed nine black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who, along with his now-deceased brother, carried out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and injured hundreds.
Biden said the move would prevent the new Trump administration from carrying out the executions.
“In good conscience I cannot allow a new government to resume the executions I stopped,” he said.
The action came after Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 prisoners held at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and pardoned 40 others. including his son Hunter.
As of December 13, Biden has pardoned a total of 65 people and commuted sentences for 1,634 inmates during his time as president, according to the Justice Department.
Hunter Biden smiles broadly as he leaves an Arby’s in Santa Barbara on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. This is the first time President Joe Biden’s son has been photographed since being pardoned by his father. (The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The President has made more commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms,” White House officials said in an earlier statement.
Trump took has taken a tough stance on the death penalty and previously suggested that drug dealers should be entitled to the highest sentence.
“We will require anyone who sells drugs and is caught selling drugs to receive the death penalty for their heinous actions,” Trump said during his campaign trial earlier this year. “Because it’s the only way.”
