United States President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized President Joe Biden’s recent decision to commute the death sentences of 37 of 40 federal inmates, a move that came during the 82-year-old Democrat’s final month in office.
President Biden, in his final month in office, announced on Monday that he was changing those sentences to life without parole, which would affect those convicted of serious crimes.
They include nine people convicted of murdering fellow inmates, four murders during bank robberies and one for killing a prison guard.
“Joe Biden just executed 37 of our nation’s worst murderers,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.
“When you hear everyone’s actions, you won’t believe he did it. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are even more devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!”
Biden had halted the federal death penalty but was under pressure to do more before leaving the White House on January 20, amid indications from Republican Trump that he would resume the practice.
Biden condemned the inmates he rescued and “their despicable actions,” but said he needed “my conscience and my experience” to prevent the incoming Trump administration from resuming executions. Guidance has been received.
He excluded three men from his command, however — one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers, a gunman who killed 11 Jewish worshipers in 2018 and a white supremacist who attacked a church in 2015. Nine blacks who were leaving were shot dead.
Trump confirmed that he would direct the Justice Department to “vigorously enforce the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers and monsters.”
“We will once again be a nation of peace and order!” He added.