President Joe Biden commuted the sentences on Monday of 37 death row inmates, citing his conscience as a force behind the decision. He also left the death sentences unchanged for three men charged with hate-motivated mass shootings and terrorism.
Biden, who imposed a moratorium on federal executions during his administration, commuted the death sentences to life sentences without the possibility of parole, saying in a statement that he’s dedicated his career “to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.”
“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,” Biden said.
“But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”
The three men Biden left on death row Monday include Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, sentenced in 2015 of bombing the Boston Marathon in 2013; Dylann Roof, sentenced in 2017 of fatally shooting nine members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina; and Robert Bowers, sentenced in 2023 for the deadly shooting in 2018 that killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
The president’s commutations Monday come after he commuted the sentences on Dec. 12 of 1,500 people who were placed in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic. He also granted pardons for 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes.
Biden received criticism from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and others for including among the mass commutations a Pennsylvania judge convicted in 2011 of sending children to prison in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks from a private jail — a crime that became known in the commonwealth as the “Cash for Kids” scheme.
Advocates for abolishing the death penalty and some U.S. House Democrats had pressured Biden to commute death penalty sentences ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump expedited some executions during his first term.
In a statement, Trump transition spokesman Steven Cheung blasted the commutations.
“These are among the worst killers in the world and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones,” Cheung wrote. “President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he was elected with a massive mandate from the American people.”
According to the White House, the names of the death row inmates whose sentences were commuted Monday are:
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Shannon Wayne Agofsky
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Billie Jerome Allen
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Aquilia Marcivicci Barnette
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Brandon Leon Basham
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Anthony George Battle
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Meier Jason Brown
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Carlos David Caro
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Wesley Paul Coonce, Jr.
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Brandon Michael Council
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Christopher Emory Cramer
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Len Davis
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Joseph Ebron
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Ricky Allen Fackrell
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Edward Leon Fields, Jr.
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Chadrick Evan Fulks
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Marvin Charles Gabrion, II
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Edgar Baltazar Garcia
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Thomas Morocco Hager
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Charles Michael Hall
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Norris G. Holder
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Richard Allen Jackson
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Jurijus Kadamovas
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Daryl Lawrence
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Iouri Mikhel
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Ronald Mikos
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James H. Roane, Jr.
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Julius Omar Robinson
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David Anthony Runyon
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Ricardo Sanchez, Jr.
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Thomas Steven Sanders
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Kaboni Savage
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Mark Isaac Snarr
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Rejon Taylor
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Richard Tipton
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Jorge Avila Torrez
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Daniel Troya
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Alejandro Enrique Ramirez Umaña
–Ashley Murray, Florida Phoenix
Matthew says
What a shame that Joe is not allowing his conscience to take these criminals victims’ into account and let the wheels of justice keep on rolling
These criminals EARNED the death penalty. Let’s see how long it takes for one of them to become a repeat offender.
Keep Flagler Beautiful says
What a reprobate. To inflict this type of pain on victims’ families right before Christmas is unconscionable. Biden’s legacy is complete, except for pardoning himself, and I’m sure that’s coming on January 19th.
JimboXYZ says
Would expect no less from Biden considering he pardoned his son, so why not commute death sentences and leave them in prison for life. What a guy ? Still doesn’t distract from the fact that he pardoned Hunter Biden like he did, any crimes that he may have committed as part of the family of racketeers ? Just a Merry Christmas for the Biden’s, just remember “Nobody is above the law.” And Biden “wants you to be successful, but he’s going to make sure you pay your taxes.”
Skibum says
All Biden is doing is effectively resentencing those 37 death row inmates so they will serve the rest of their lives in prison, without any possibility of release. Whereas Trump has said he plans to set free hundreds of felons who had their day in court and were convicted by juries of their peers or the judge. Those he plans to set completely free were involved in the mass insurrection at the U.S. Capitol which caused deaths and injured more than 114 law enforcement officers, several of whom were never able to return to duty due to the trauma and injuries. So the MAGA outrage over Biden’s commutations don’t even rise to the level of usurping our nation’s justice system that has been talked about and planned by the incoming Trump administration, and I suspect the calamity and level of unlawful conduct we will see as a result of the corruption to come will be unparalleled in our nation’s history. Buckle your seatbelts, folks!
Sherry says
Why haven’t we heard the same negative comments regarding each and every convicted friend of trump when he pardoned them?
If “Nobody Is Above The Law”. . . why isn’t “Convicted Felon” donald trump in jail? My, my, my things are certainly “insanely twisted and hypocritical” in maga trump cult world!
Jim says
“…just remember “Nobody is above the law.”” says the guy who voted for the orange god for president despite convictions on 34 felony counts, convicted of sexual assault (rape) and fined, stole a huge quantity of government security documents (which by his own admission he knew he wasn’t supposed to have), and led his followers to attempt an insurrection in an attempt to hold on to power. It’s just comical for me to read comments like yours which show you have no concept of right and wrong, only acceptance of the MAGA crap and ignorance of facts.
Joe D says
Reply to Matthew…
Repeated Offender?…did you READ the article. Instead of the death penalty, they are now going to service life sentences without the possibility of parole!
Exactly HOW are they going to be REPEAT Offenders in jail for life? Unless they kill someone in jail.
Kennan says
Wise words, kung fu panda.
Laurel says
Jimbo, you really do live in an alternate universe, with “alternate facts” as Kellyanne would say.
For starters, exactly what crimes, President Biden been found guilty of?
“During his first term in office, Trump granted 144 pardons. Those included a distant family member and some of his closest allies who committed crimes ranging from financial fraud to witness tampering and more.
Some notable names on that list of Trump allies who received pardons are Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon; former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and others.” – USA Today
144. All convicted criminals.
Oh, yeah, and he himself is a convicted criminal.
Short, little memory span? Look at the whole picture, for a change.
Keep Flagler Beautiful says
How many people are serving insanely long sentences for gun possession offenses while Hunter Biden gets a Daddy Pass? 10% for the big guy.
Ed P says
Annual cost to hold someone in prison for life is around $43,836 per inmate or about $2,000,000. Many Americans will never earn 2 million dollars during their life.
I’m not convinced that it’s more “humane” to subject any person to life in prison…forever.
How do you control these prisoners? What’s left as a deterrent? You were sentenced to death and now you will remain in prison forever.
How do the guards protect themselves? Other prisoners? What? Give a lifer who kills another victim double life? Triple life? Take away TV?
Keep them caged in solitary confinement? Put them in permanent purgatory in a super max facility?
Does anyone have common sense anymore?
The death penalty is more humane than the alternative. We euthanize our pets to keep them from suffering.
Tony Mack says
For the first time in American history, an entire political party, representing millions of Americans, are conceding that it is okay to put a convicted criminal in the Oval Office! An entire political party and its members would rather have a criminal lead this Nation.
The United States may brag about having a “Legal” system that provides equal justice under the law, but it falls far short of having a “Justice” system when it comes to the crimes of Donald Trump.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Just remember, your not a convicted felon, until your sentenced!
Joe D says
For: Dennis C…
Good Grief, you are a “Convicted Felon,” when you are CONVICTED!
The sentencing only determines your custody status (probation, Community Service, home detention, “suspended “ sentence, or incarceration, etc.). I’m sure someone with REAL legal background can correct me if I’m wrong!
I’m confused, weren’t you retired from being a police officer, or am I confusing you with another commentator?
Tony Mack says
Interesting Florida Keeper but — did you not consider that when Matt Gaetz purchased firearms he lied about his cocaine abuse? Yeah, don’t think it matters much.
Laurel says
Wow, you really can go a long way out of the way to make a new perspective!