Donald Trump has vowed to make the U.S. a “Nation of Law and Order” upon his inauguration, promising to direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty for perpetrators of violent crimes. This declaration comes one day after President Biden commuted the death sentences of most federal death row inmates. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated his intention to prioritize capital punishment to protect American families from violent criminals.
However, Trump’s pledge is limited by the fact that he cannot reverse Biden’s commutations of the sentences of 37 federal death row prisoners. Three death sentences remain intact: those of Robert Bowers (Tree of Life synagogue shooting), Dylann Roof (Mother Emanuel AME church shooting), and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Boston Marathon bombing).
Biden’s decision has drawn mixed reactions. While opponents of the death penalty praised the move, others, including victims’ families, expressed outrage. Donnie Oliverio, partner of a police officer killed by a prisoner whose sentence was commuted, stated that the execution would not have brought him peace. Conversely, Marissa Gibson, widow of the same officer, criticized Biden’s action as a dismissal of the justice system. Rev. Sharon Risher, a family member of victims of the Mother Emanuel AME church shooting, while supporting Biden’s overall action, felt the decision was unfair and urged him to commute the remaining three sentences, arguing that victims shouldn’t be ranked.
Biden, a long-time opponent of capital punishment, cited his inability to allow the incoming administration to restart federal executions, a campaign promise made by Trump, under whose presidency thirteen federal prisoners were executed. Trump’s response to Biden’s commutation was swift and angry, characterizing the decision as incomprehensible and further devastating to victims’ families.