SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Biden converts 37 death sentences to life imprisonment

With less than a month left as the President of the USA, Joe Biden abolishes the death penalty for 37 of the 40 prisoners sentenced to it at the federal level. The decision prevents his successor Donald Trump from restarting executions, writes The Wall Street Journal.

» Published: December 23 2024

Biden converts 37 death sentences to life imprisonment
Photo: Rod Lamkey/AP/TT

The prisoners will instead serve life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Biden, who is an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, paused federal executions when he became president. At that time, the executions had been resumed in the summer of 2020 by Trump, who during his re-election campaign also promised to expand the use of the death penalty.

"My conscience does not allow me to let a new administration resume the executions I stopped," says Joe Biden in a statement. He means that the conversions "are in accordance with the moratorium introduced by my administration."

Among those who now have their sentences converted to life imprisonment are nine people who have been convicted of murdering fellow prisoners, four who have been convicted of murder during bank robberies, and one who killed a prison guard. The last three, who remain on death row, are individuals who have committed mass murder classified as hate or terrorist crimes.

"Do not misunderstand me: I condemn these murderers, mourn the victims of their heinous acts, and sympathize with the families who have suffered an unimaginable and irreparable loss," says Biden in the statement.

His decision has strong symbolic significance, but not as great an effect in practice – in the USA, most death sentences are handed down at the state level, not federally.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Ukraine: Large drone and robot attack tonight

Ukraine: Large drone and robot attack tonight

Testimonies from Gaza: Children walk around without shoes

Testimonies from Gaza: Children walk around without shoes

Musk: Then the First Ship Lifts Off to Mars

Musk: Then the First Ship Lifts Off to Mars

Trump on the 24-hour promise: "I was a bit sarcastic"

Trump on the 24-hour promise: "I was a bit sarcastic"

Tech giants want to train AI on protected material

Tech giants want to train AI on protected material

Dissatisfaction culminates: Giant protest in Belgrade

Dissatisfaction culminates: Giant protest in Belgrade

Urination in the Hot Pot Gave Free Food to Thousands

Urination in the Hot Pot Gave Free Food to Thousands

New Power Outage Paralyzes Cuba

New Power Outage Paralyzes Cuba

Dog shoots owner in USA - "got stuck"

Dog shoots owner in USA - "got stuck"

Starmer: Putin is not serious about peace

Starmer: Putin is not serious about peace

Rescue of Stranded Astronauts Initiated

Rescue of Stranded Astronauts Initiated

The Senate Approves Budget – Prevents Shutdown

The Senate Approves Budget – Prevents Shutdown

Captain suspected of causing another person's death

Captain suspected of causing another person's death

Universities in the USA investigated for racism against whites

Universities in the USA investigated for racism against whites

British Man in Kenya Killed by President's Motorcade

British Man in Kenya Killed by President's Motorcade

Greenlandic party leaders on Trump: "Unacceptable"

Greenlandic party leaders on Trump: "Unacceptable"

UN: Russia has committed crimes against humanity

UN: Russia has committed crimes against humanity

Carney new Prime Minister in Canada

Carney new Prime Minister in Canada

G7 warns Russia – may introduce new sanctions

G7 warns Russia – may introduce new sanctions

Iraq: High-ranking IS leader killed

Iraq: High-ranking IS leader killed

Source: UN agency lays off every fifth employee

Source: UN agency lays off every fifth employee

Teenager sentenced to terror - became a Nazi online

Teenager sentenced to terror - became a Nazi online

New Attack in Bombarded Key City in Sudan

New Attack in Bombarded Key City in Sudan

Hamas: Release the Israeli-American Hostages

Hamas: Release the Israeli-American Hostages

Child dies after rape – protests in Bangladesh

Child dies after rape – protests in Bangladesh

Duterte in court in The Hague via video link

Duterte in court in The Hague via video link

Over 30 dead in cholera outbreak in Ethiopia

Over 30 dead in cholera outbreak in Ethiopia

Internal conflicts threaten the Tigray peace agreement

Internal conflicts threaten the Tigray peace agreement

Measles in Mexico – linked to outbreak in the USA

Measles in Mexico – linked to outbreak in the USA

EU sanctions extended - also against notorious oligarch

EU sanctions extended - also against notorious oligarch

Russian in Finland convicted of war crimes in Ukraine

Russian in Finland convicted of war crimes in Ukraine

Trump may cause Portugal to skip US planes

Trump may cause Portugal to skip US planes

The Alarm: One Million Myanmar Nationals Will Go Without Emergency Aid

The Alarm: One Million Myanmar Nationals Will Go Without Emergency Aid

Task: Wants to Move the People of Gaza to East Africa

Task: Wants to Move the People of Gaza to East Africa

Trump urges Putin: Spare Ukrainian lives

Trump urges Putin: Spare Ukrainian lives

Iran in China for urgent nuclear deal meeting

Iran in China for urgent nuclear deal meeting

Protested against Israel – may be deported by Trump

Protested against Israel – may be deported by Trump

Democrat leader wants to avoid shutdown in the USA

Democrat leader wants to avoid shutdown in the USA

Australia furious with American who stole wombat

Australia furious with American who stole wombat

Zelensky: Very difficult situation in Kursk

Zelensky: Very difficult situation in Kursk