Democratic Representatives, activist call on Biden to commute federal death sentences
Source: USA Today
Published 8:22 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2024 | Updated 8:23 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2024
Congressional Democrats called on outgoing President Joe Biden to utilize executive powers to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates in a press conference Tuesday.
Rep. Ayana Pressley (D-MA) reiterated previous calls to grant clemency, including the reintroduction of legislation to ban the use of the death penalty at the federal level in 2023. "Mr. President, you and you alone have the power to save lives," Pressley said. "You must use it."
The press conference included Democratic representatives and activists who have been pushing Biden to act in the waning days of his administration. There are currently 40 men on federal death row whose sentences Biden could commute to life in prison.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) recalled that ending the federal death penalty was a promise Biden made during the 2020 campaign and said that Biden faces little political opposition to commute their sentences as a lame-duck president. "I'm not sure what he's waiting for but the only time better than yesterday is today," Bush said. USA TODAY contacted the White House ahead of the press conference but did not immediately receive a response.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/10/ayana-pressley-cori-bush-biden-death-sentences/76873771007/