President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row, a decision announced just two days before Christmas. The clemency applies to some of the nation's most violent offenders, including child killers and mass murderers, and has sparked intense debate over its implications for justice and public safety.
"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 stated. "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."
The individuals spared from execution include Thomas Sanders, who was convicted in 2010 of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old girl, Lexis Roberts, and her mother. Another commutation recipient, Anthony Battle, killed a prison guard in Atlanta in 1994 while serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of his wife, a U.S. Marine. Jorge Avila-Torrez, who murdered two young girls and a naval officer, and Kaboni Savage, a drug dealer responsible for the deaths of 12 people, were also among those whose sentences were commuted.
Despite the widespread clemency, Biden excluded three inmates: Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, and Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof. These individuals, convicted of some of the most infamous acts of domestic terrorism and hate crimes in recent history, remain on federal death row.
Biden's decision to commute the sentences aligns with his longstanding opposition to the death penalty. He has repeatedly cited his experiences as a public defender and his concerns about the justice system's ability to fairly and effectively impose the ultimate punishment. "In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted," Biden stated.
The commutations, which convert death sentences into life imprisonment without parole, reflect Biden's broader efforts to reform the justice system. The White House framed the decision as part of the president's commitment to "ensuring a fair and effective justice system," a position that has drawn both praise and criticism.
Biden has exercised his clemency powers extensively in recent weeks. Earlier this month, he commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals who had been temporarily released during the COVID-19 pandemic. The clemency recipients included high-profile cases such as Josephine Gray, known as the "Black Widow," and Rita Crundwell, a former comptroller convicted of embezzling $54 million from a small Illinois town.
Critics have voiced strong objections to Biden's actions, particularly in light of the severity of the crimes committed by those granted clemency. Republican lawmakers and victims' advocates argue that the move undermines justice for the victims and their families.
Full list of the 37 people who have had their death sentences commuted
Shannon Wayne Agofsky
Billie Jerome Allen
Aquilia Marcivicci Barnette
Brandon Leon Basham
Anthony George Battle
Meier Jason Brown
Carlos David Caro
Wesley Paul Coonce, Jr.
Brandon Michael Council
Christopher Emory Cramer
Len Davis
Joseph Ebron
Rickey Allen Fackrell
Edward Leon Fields, Jr.
Chadrick Evan Fulks
Marvin Charles Gabrion, II
Edgar Baltazar Garcia
Thomas Morocco Hager
Charles Michael Hall
Norris G. Holder
Richard Allen Jackson
Jurijus Kadamovas
Daryl Lawrence
Iouri Mikhel
Ronald Mikos
James H. Roane, Jr.
Julius Omar Robinson
David Anthony Runyon
Ricardo Sanchez, Jr.
Thomas Steven Sanders
Kaboni Savage
Mark Isaac Snarr
Rejon Taylor
Richard Tipton
Jorge Avila Torrez
Daniel Troya
Alejandro Enrique Ramies Umana
