In a shocking holiday twist, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates just two days before Christmas.
The move, part of Biden’s push to abolish the federal death penalty, included clemency for child killers, mass murderers, and other violent offenders.
A Stunning Act of Clemency
Biden, 82, reduced the death sentences to life imprisonment without parole, citing his belief in a “fair and effective justice system.” In a statement, he condemned the crimes while defending his decision, saying, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”
Among those spared the death penalty are Thomas Sanders, who kidnapped and murdered 12-year-old Lexis Roberts after killing her mother, and Anthony Battle, who brutally murdered a prison guard with a hammer while already serving life for killing his wife, a U.S. Marine.
Infamous Killers on the List
Other beneficiaries include Jorge Avila-Torrez, who murdered two young girls in Illinois and later strangled a Navy officer in Virginia, and Kaboni Savage, a Philadelphia drug dealer responsible for 12 murders, including four children. Iouri Mikhel, convicted of kidnapping and murdering immigrants for ransom, and James Roane Jr., linked to 11 murders as part of a drug ring, also had their sentences commuted.
However, three high-profile inmates—Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, and Charleston church gunman Dylann Roof—were notably excluded from Biden’s clemency.
Backlash and Controversy
The decision has sparked outrage, particularly from families of victims. Critics argue that Biden’s actions prioritize a political agenda over justice for the victims of these heinous crimes. While the president justified the clemency as part of his broader push to end capital punishment, he offered no specific explanation for why these particular sentences were deemed unjust.
Adding to the controversy, Biden has also faced criticism for a string of recent pardons, including a blanket pardon for his son Hunter Biden earlier this month and commutations for nearly 1,500 prisoners released during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite his campaign promise to release individuals incarcerated for marijuana offenses, Biden’s clemency actions have largely excluded cannabis offenders, drawing ire from activists.
A Legacy of Clemency?
Biden’s unprecedented clemency spree leaves a polarizing legacy as he nears the end of his presidency. While he claims to be guided by conscience and experience, the commutations have ignited debate over the balance between justice and mercy. As the dust settles, the decision is certain to remain a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation about the death penalty and criminal justice reform.
