A former Florida prison warden, Ron McAndrew, who previously oversaw executions, is urging President Biden to commute all federal and military death sentences before leaving office. McAndrew, a self-described 'law-and-order guy,' Air Force veteran, and pro-life Catholic, has written a letter to President Biden expressing his opposition to the death penalty.
McAndrew's stance against capital punishment stems from his firsthand experiences overseeing executions, including witnessing disturbing incidents during electric chair executions and lethal injections. He recounted a traumatic event during Pedro Medina's execution in 1997, where a burst of flames erupted, causing significant distress to witnesses.
Following these experiences, McAndrew developed severe stress, leading to a diagnosis and a shift in his views on the death penalty. He now advocates for abolishing capital punishment and has joined forces with Abraham Bonowitz to push for clemency for all federal and military death row inmates.
Bonowitz emphasized that capital punishment should not be a partisan issue and highlighted the inefficiencies and moral implications of government-sanctioned executions. He also extended an appeal to Elon Musk, suggesting that the elimination of the death penalty could be a significant step towards government efficiency.
The letter comes amidst President Trump's plans to end Biden's moratorium on federal executions and expand the scope of crimes punishable by death. Currently, there are 40 inmates on federal death row, including individuals convicted of heinous crimes such as domestic terrorism and drug trafficking.
McAndrew also raised concerns about the special treatment afforded to death row inmates, noting their exemption from work duties and access to privileges not available to other prisoners. He criticized the resources allocated to death row inmates, particularly in states like California where a moratorium on executions provides them with extensive legal support.
Under Trump's administration, federal executions saw a significant increase, with 13 prisoners executed during his first term. In contrast, President Biden implemented a moratorium on federal executions upon taking office in 2021.
