In a statement, President Biden expressed his condemnation for the murderers, sorrow for the victims of their heinous acts, and sympathy for the families enduring unimaginable loss. Drawing on his extensive experience as a public defender, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Vice President, and now President, he highlighted the need to abolish the federal death penalty. Biden, who opposes capital punishment, commuted the sentences of 37 individuals to life in prison without parole, citing his conscience as the driving force behind this decision.
Among those granted clemency were individuals like Thomas Sanders, who committed a brutal crime in 2010 by kidnapping and fatally shooting a young girl after killing her mother. Anthony Battle, who murdered a prison guard with a hammer in 1994, and Jorge Avila-Torrez, who sexually assaulted and killed two young girls, were also recipients of this holiday reprieve. Notably, Biden’s clemency excluded individuals such as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Robert Bowers, and Dylann Roof, who were involved in high-profile acts of violence.
President Biden has recently exercised his clemency powers by issuing pardons and commutations, including granting clemency to nearly 1,500 individuals released during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes cases like Josephine Gray, known as the “Black Widow,” and Rita Crundwell, who embezzled millions of dollars during her time as Dixon’s comptroller.
Overall, the President’s actions reflect his commitment to justice and mercy within the criminal justice system.
A woman was found dead in Louisiana in 2010. Despite a series of controversial actions, President Biden has faced criticism from cannabis activists for not fulfilling his 2019 campaign promise to release all individuals incarcerated for marijuana offenses. Instead, shortly before the 2022 midterm elections, he issued a blanket pardon for individuals convicted of simple possession of marijuana, all of whom were already out of prison. This move elicited strong reactions from inmates, who saw it as a disrespectful gesture.
