In a move that has sparked outrage among victims' families, President Joe Biden recently commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row.
Heather Turner, whose mother was brutally murdered in a bank robbery by one of the men granted clemency, expressed her anguish and frustration on social media. "At no point did the president consider the victims," Turner posted on Facebook. "The pain and trauma we have endured over the last 7 years has been indescribable. Our government is a joke. Joe Biden's decision is a clear gross abuse of power. He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands."
As reported by Newsweek, Turner's sentiments were echoed by other victims' families. Alex Snell, whose sister was strangled to death by Jorge Avila-Torrez, another man whose sentence was commuted, demanded an explanation from Biden. "He should have gotten that penalty," Snell insisted. "I'd rather see it go back to the way it was, where he was sentenced to death."
Tim Timmerman, whose daughter was murdered by Marvin Gabrion, one of the men granted clemency, described Biden's decision as a "Christmas gift to the perpetrators of murder." He lamented, "I think President Biden offered a Christmas gift to the perpetrators of murder, but he offered only pain to the victims, the families of the victims." Timmerman argued that Gabrion, who killed his daughter by throwing her into a lake while she was still alive, deserved the death penalty. "You couldn't imagine someone that deserved it more than Mr. Gabrion," Timmerman said. "He killed at least five people. Where's the justice in just giving him a prison bed to die comfortably in?"
Marissa Gibson, the widow of a police officer murdered by Daryl Lawrence, another man whose sentence was commuted, called the President's decision "distressing news." She said, "While this is truly distressing news on a personal level for my family, it also feels like a complete dismissal and undermining of the federal justice system. Lawrence's sentence was imposed by a jury, and it should be upheld as such."
The commutations come at a time when executions and death sentences are at near historic lows, with increasing disapproval for the death penalty due to its perceived unfair application and questions about innocence, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center's (DPIC) year-end report. The report revealed that this year marked the tenth consecutive year with fewer than 30 executions, while support for the death penalty remains at a five-decade low.
Biden's decision to commute the sentences was met with criticism from former President Donald Trump, who resumed federal executions after a 17-year hiatus during his first term. Trump broke his silence on the issue, stating, "Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country. When you hear the acts of each, you won't believe that he did this."
However, Biden did not commute the death sentences of Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Charleston church killer Dylann Roof, and Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers. These three will be the only ones left on the federal execution list when Trump, a proponent of the death penalty, takes office on January 20.
Despite the backlash, Biden defended his decision, stating, "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." Some, like retired Ohio police officer Donnie Oliverio, whose partner was killed by Daryl Lawrence, supported Biden's decision. Oliverio said, "Putting to death the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace...The president has done what is right here, and what is consistent with the faith he and I share. Thank you, Mr. President."
Regardless of the controversy, the 37 men whose death sentences Biden has commuted will not face execution for their convicted crimes. The three men who remain on federal death row have filed appeals, and Trump cannot reverse Biden's commutations.
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