Outgoing President Joe Biden has added yet another controversial move to his legacy by commuting the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. The decision, which spares individuals convicted of some of the most heinous crimes imaginable, has drawn sharp criticism. While Biden left three inmates exempt from clemency, this selective mercy only amplifies the absurdity of his actions, as the spared criminals include individuals who murdered children, law enforcement officers, and entire families. The message seems clear: Biden’s final priority is to shield violent offenders from the justice their victims deserve.
The timing of Biden’s decision is particularly eyebrow-raising. With the Trump administration set to take office shortly, the commutations appear designed to block Trump’s plans to expand the federal death penalty to include child traffickers, drug kingpins, and killers of police officers. Biden framed his actions as a stand against violence and an effort to promote a more “effective” judicial system, though the public is left wondering how sparing cold-blooded murderers from execution accomplishes either goal. His statement, insisting these moves are about reducing violent crime, rings hollow given the nature of the crimes committed by those now shielded from the ultimate punishment.
Biden’s approach reflects a broader pattern within his administration. In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland imposed a moratorium on federal executions, citing concerns over racial disparities, among other issues. Of the 37 inmates whose sentences were commuted, the racial breakdown was notably diverse, including Black, Latino, and white individuals. However, the exceptions to Biden’s clemency—cases involving terrorism and hate-motivated mass murders—highlight the contradictory nature of this decision. It’s as though Biden wants to appease both sides, sparing killers from execution while drawing the line at crimes that would generate the most political backlash.
Among those left off Biden’s mercy list were high-profile offenders such as Robert Bowers, the perpetrator of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, Dylann Roof, responsible for the Charleston church massacre, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber. While exempting these individuals may appear as an effort to maintain some semblance of accountability, it does little to justify the leniency shown to others. For example, Biden commuted the sentences of Ricardo Sanchez, Jr., and Daniel Troya, who wiped out an entire family, and Kaboni Savage, a drug lord responsible for the deaths of 12 people, including six members of a single family.
Biden’s critics argue that his stance on the death penalty reflects a misplaced sense of morality, one that prioritizes violent criminals over their victims. While he claims his experience as a public defender and legislator has convinced him of the need to abolish federal executions, his actions send a troubling message to law-abiding citizens and victims’ families. Sparing the lives of individuals who have committed unimaginable atrocities, like murdering children and torching families, undermines the very concept of justice. As Biden exits the political stage, the consequences of his leniency will linger, raising serious questions about accountability and the true role of the federal justice system.
