Trump’s Commitment to Capital Punishment in Response to Biden’s Actions
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump made a strong statement on Tuesday regarding capital punishment, vowing to push for its vigorous use. This comes after President Joe Biden decided to reduce the sentences of many individuals on federal death row, a move interpreted by some as an effort to hinder Trump’s plans for executions.
In a recent social media post, Trump criticized Biden for commuting the sentences of 37 out of 40 people sentenced to death. He argued that this decision disrespects the families of the victims and is hard to comprehend. Biden defended his actions, indicating that they aligned with a pause on federal executions, except in cases of terrorism and mass murder driven by hate.
Trump wrote, “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. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!”
Historically, presidents have not directly involved themselves in dictating federal sentences. However, Trump has been clear about wanting to take a more active role, stating that he would instruct the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty upon his inauguration. He mentioned this would target violent offenders, including rapists and murderers.
On the campaign trail, Trump consistently advocated for expanding the federal death penalty to cover various serious crimes, such as those committed against police officers and crimes related to drug and human trafficking.
Experts are weighing Trump’s commitments to the death penalty, with some suggesting it may be more rhetoric than a detailed plan at this stage. Douglas Berman, a sentencing expert, pointed out that while Trump has consistently valued the death penalty as an important tool, making substantial changes would be challenging under current laws.
Public opinion has historically leaned towards support for the death penalty, particularly for murderers, although recent polls show a decline in this support. In an October study, about half of Americans favored capital punishment, whereas around 70% did so in 2007.
It’s worth noting that most death row sentences are issued by states rather than the federal government. Prior to Biden’s commutation, there were only 40 federal inmates facing death sentences, while over 2,000 individuals were sentenced to death by state courts.
Berman raised the question of whether the Trump administration might pursue certain murder cases related to issues like drug trafficking, especially in states that have outlawed the death penalty.
In addition, Trump indicated interest in making child rapists and traffickers eligible for capital punishment. This problem could potentially lead to a reconsideration by the Supreme Court of previous rulings that prevent the death penalty for such crimes.
Two specific cases mentioned by Trump involve individuals with horrifying histories. One is a former Marine convicted of brutal killings, including that of young children. Another man was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old girl.
While some families of victims expressed outrage at Biden’s actions, advocacy groups, including the ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, celebrated the move. Biden has left three individuals to face execution, including those convicted of high-profile heinous acts.
As the discussion around capital punishment continues, it remains to be seen how Trump’s policies will evolve and whether they can effectively address the complexities of crime and justice in America.
