Trump vows to direct DOJ to pursue death penalty in wake of Biden clemencies
President-elect Trump vowed Tuesday to direct his Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue the death penalty in the wake of President Biden’s clemencies of nearly every federal death row inmate.
“As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters,” Trump said on Truth Social. “We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!”
Trump’s remarks come just a day after Biden officially announced he has commuted sentences of 37 out of 40 prisoners on federal death row, reclassifying their sentences from execution to life in prison.
The move, which has drawn mixed reaction, leaves only three “hard cases” behind — that of two notorious mass shooters who carried out their killings in a church and synagogue and one of the brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing.
Some of the prisoners granted clemency have been on death row for more than a decade with their crimes including the murders of other prisoners and prison guards.
Biden in a statement said he was commuting the sentences in part because he expected Trump's incoming administration to remove a moratorium placed on federal executions under Biden's White House, with the exception of those involving terrorism and hate-fueled murders.
“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,” Biden said.
Trump’s team criticized the president’s decision Monday, characterizing it as “abhorrent” and a “slap in the face.”
“These are among the worst killers in the world and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones,” Trump communications director Steven Cheung said.
“President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he was elected with a massive mandate from the American people,” Cheung added.
Trump has said during his 2024 presidential campaign that he is in favor of seeking the death penalty for lesser offenses including for drug traffickers.
While the president has faced criticism over the decision, he has gotten praise from some civil rights groups: the American Civil Liberties Union and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.