President Joe Biden has made headlines with his recent decision to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row, yet notable figures such as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Dylann Roof, and Robert Bowers remain excluded from this clemency. This move signals Biden's commitment to halting the death penalty at the federal level, except for specific cases involving terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.
On Monday, the Biden administration officially announced the commutation of sentences for nearly all but three of the federal death row inmates, aligning with the moratorium his administration placed on federal executions. "These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," Biden stated.
The three individuals who remain on death row—Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Dylann Roof, and Robert Bowers—each committed heinous acts of violence. Tsarnaev, along with his brother, executed the tragic Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013, which resulted in three fatalities and over 260 injuries. He was later sentenced to death for his crimes, and the Supreme Court recently reinstated this sentence after multiple appeals.
Roof's act of mass violence occurred on June 17, 2015, when he opened fire during Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, killing nine Black churchgoers. The 21-year-old was motivated by deeply ingrained racism and was later sentenced to death after being found guilty of 33 federal charges, including multiple counts of hate crimes.
Meanwhile, Bowers perpetrated the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history at the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018, where he killed 11 worshippers. His attack was fueled by long-standing hatred against Jews, which he expressed on social media before the shooting. He faces numerous federal charges, with death as his sentence since August 2023.
Biden's choice to commute the sentences of those involved does not extend to these three cases. Each of their actions has created significant emotional turmoil, prompting numerous calls from the public and advocates urging Biden to reconsider his stance on these commutations.
The president expressed, "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." This acknowledgment highlights the complex emotions surrounding the discussions about capital punishment.
Critics have raised concerns about the decision to leave these individuals on death row. Reverend Sharon Risher, whose family members were victims of Roof, expressed her feelings on behalf of many victim families: "I need the President to understand... you can't rank victims, Mr. President. I am begging you to finish the job." This sentiment resonates with numerous families compelled to confront the legacies of violence every time these cases resurface.
On the other hand, advocates for maintaining the death penalty express their apprehensions, especially considering the political climate surrounding President-elect Donald Trump's potential return to federal executions. "The danger of leaving the death penalty as an available tool for Donald Trump to use cannot be overstated," warned Abraham Bonowitz, the executive director of Death Penalty Action.
With the transition of power nearing, the Biden administration remains focused on mitigating any potential rush on federal executions. By commuting these sentences, Biden aims to create boundaries around capital punishment and solidify his administration's stance against it, even as the conversation surrounding it remains deeply polarized.
This action has also come shortly after Biden commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals previously on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic—a bold move described as the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. His continuing commitment to justice reform is evident, signaling the complexity of American attitudes toward punishment, redemption, and the role of government.
With this renewed dialogue about the capital punishment system, the future of federal executions hangs precariously. Biden stresses the necessity of reform, even as critics of the death penalty assert their belief in its persistence as part of the American criminal justice system.
The decision to exclude Tsarnaev, Roof, and Bowers from this recent commutation reflects both the political and social challenges facing national leaders who attempt to navigate the deeply complex discourse on justice and punishment. Whether this decision heralds new policies on capital punishment remains to be seen as the U.S. continues grappling with how to reckon with its past and present approaches to justice.
