‘Squad’ Dem applauds Biden for sparing murderers from ‘racist’ death penalty in 11th-hour clemency move

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a prominent progressive House Democrat, has publicly praised President Biden’s recent decision to commute the death sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row. In a statement released on Monday, Pressley lauded the President’s action as a historic and compassionate move that will not only save lives but also address the deep racial disparities inherent in the criminal justice system.

“The President’s decision to commute the death sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row is a historic and groundbreaking act of compassion that will save lives, address the deep racial disparities in our criminal legal system, and send a powerful message about redemption, decency, and humanity,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley.

Pressley went on to denounce the death penalty as a racist, flawed, and fundamentally unjust punishment that has no place in any society. She argued that the death penalty has disproportionately targeted Black and Brown communities and has ultimately failed to make America any safer.

As a member of the progressive “Squad” in the House of Representatives, Pressley has been a vocal advocate for abolishing the death penalty. President Biden’s recent clemency order affects nearly all individuals on federal death row, leaving only three inmates behind – Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers.

Among those whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment are individuals like Thomas Sanders, Jorge Avila-Torrez, and Anthony Battle, who committed heinous crimes such as kidnapping and murder, sexual assault and murder, and murder of a prison guard, respectively.

Democrats had been pressuring President Biden to utilize his clemency powers following his controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing federal gun charges. Biden responded to this pressure by commuting the sentences of approximately 1,500 Americans in a single-day order, the largest such action in recent memory.

In contrast, former President Trump had been vocal about expanding the use of the death penalty, particularly for drug traffickers, child rapists, and illegal immigrants who commit crimes against U.S. citizens. During his term, the Department of Justice carried out the first federal executions in 20 years, executing 13 federal prisoners on death row.

Senator Tom Cotton, a staunch ally of former President Trump, criticized President Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences, accusing Democrats of siding with criminals over victims, public order, and common decency.

In conclusion, President Biden’s recent commutation of federal death row sentences has sparked both praise and criticism, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States. Pressley’s support for the commutation order reflects a broader progressive push to abolish the death penalty and address systemic injustices within the criminal justice system.