President Joe Biden has commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates just days before Christmas, replacing them with life imprisonment without parole. The group includes individuals convicted of heinous crimes, such as child killings, mass murders, and other violent acts. Biden, who has long opposed the death penalty, described the decision as part of his commitment to creating a fairer justice system. He emphasized his belief that the federal death penalty should not be used and expressed concern about the potential for its reinstatement by future administrations
Among those spared are Thomas Sanders, who murdered a 12-year-old girl after killing her mother; Jorge Avila-Torrez, who sexually assaulted and killed two young girls and a naval officer; and Kaboni Savage, responsible for the deaths of 12 people, including children. However, the commutations did not extend to high-profile cases such as Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, or Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof.
This latest act of clemency follows a series of controversial presidential pardons and commutations by Biden. Earlier in December, he issued a blanket pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people who had been temporarily released during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some praised Biden’s moves as compassionate, others criticized them as undermining justice, particularly in cases involving violent crimes.
The decision has reignited debates over the death penalty in the United States, with advocates applauding Biden’s stance and opponents arguing that such actions deny justice for victims and their families. The timing of the clemency, so close to the holiday season, has drawn further attention and mixed reactions from the public and policymakers alike.
