U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has taken action to reverse the last-hour commutations for death row murderers granted by former President Joe Biden. Bondi directed state officials to pursue the death penalty against the inmates whose sentences were commuted.
Bondi, who was confirmed recently, criticized Biden for undermining the justice system and the rule of law by granting the commutations. She expressed concern that the victims' families were deprived of the justice they had fought hard to achieve.
In response, Bondi outlined several steps to achieve justice for the victims' families. Firstly, the Department of Justice will provide a public forum for the families to express how the commutations personally affected them. This is seen as an important step in building trust and ensuring accountability.
Secondly, U.S. attorney's offices will be directed to pursue death sentences against the commuted inmates using state law. This action will be taken after consultation with the victims' families and other relevant parties, and only where legally permissible.
Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons will ensure that the conditions of confinement for each of the commuted murderers are appropriate based on their criminal histories and security risks they pose.
In December, Biden removed 37 inmates from federal death row and changed their sentences to life without parole. The move was aimed at preventing executions that would not align with current policy and practice.
Biden left three mass murderers on death row, including Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers. Bondi, a former prosecutor, has emphasized her commitment to upholding justice without political influence within the DOJ.
As the situation unfolds, the Department of Justice has been contacted for comment.
