President Joe Biden is reportedly weighing a sweeping decision to commute the sentences of the 40 men currently on federal death row, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Among those potentially affected are some of the most infamous criminals in modern U.S. history, including Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
People “familiar with the matter” revealed to the WSJ that the president is contemplating a broad commutation, converting the death sentences to life imprisonment without parole. While no final decision has been made, insiders suggest Biden could act before Christmas, either through blanket commutation or by selectively sparing some inmates based on the severity of their crimes.
The deliberations underscore a critical and contentious question: Should all federal death sentences be commuted, or should the most heinous offenders remain condemned? A White House spokesperson emphasized that discussions are ongoing, and no conclusions have been reached.
“A principal question is whether the president should issue a blanket commutation of all the condemned men, or whether death sentences should remain for the most heinous convicts,” the WSJ reported.
The timing of these reports coincides with Pope Francis’s recent call for clemency for U.S. death row inmates. In early December, the Pope urged people to pray for those awaiting execution, advocating for their sentences to be commuted.
“Let us #PrayTogether for those on death row in the United States,” Pope Francis posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Let us pray that their sentences may be commuted, changed. Let us think of these brothers and sisters of ours and ask the Lord for the grace to save them from death.”
Pope Francis has long been a vocal opponent of capital punishment. In 2018, he amended the Catechism of the Catholic Church, declaring the death penalty “inadmissible” under any circumstances.
The possibility of commutations for federal death row inmates has drawn swift and sharp criticism from conservatives and victims’ advocacy groups. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin highlighted the high-profile cases of Roof and Tsarnaev, stating on X, “Charleston church mass shooter Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are both on federal death row.”
Roof was convicted of killing nine Black parishioners at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015 during a racially motivated attack. Tsarnaev was found guilty of orchestrating the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured over 260 others.
Opponents argue that commuting these sentences could set a dangerous precedent, sending the wrong message to victims and their families while undermining justice for the most egregious crimes.
“This is not about mercy—it’s about justice,” one victims’ advocate remarked. “Commuting sentences for individuals like Roof and Tsarnaev diminishes the gravity of their actions and the suffering of their victims.”
The federal death penalty has been a polarizing issue in U.S. politics. After a 17-year hiatus, the Trump administration resumed federal executions in 2020, carrying out 13 executions in six months. In contrast, Biden has been an outspoken critic of capital punishment, aligning with his campaign promise to abolish the federal death penalty.
Biden’s potential decision would reflect a broader trend toward limiting or abolishing the death penalty nationwide. Currently, 23 states have outlawed capital punishment, while others, like California and Pennsylvania, have moratoriums in place.
Advocates for commutation argue that life imprisonment without parole is a more humane alternative that still ensures public safety. They also point to the high costs associated with lengthy death row appeals and the risk of executing innocent individuals.
If Biden follows through with this sweeping commutation, it would mark one of the most significant policy shifts in the history of the federal death penalty. However, such a decision carries considerable political risks, potentially alienating moderate voters and inflaming tensions with victims’ families.
The decision also raises ethical and philosophical questions about the role of capital punishment in a modern justice system. Is the death penalty a necessary deterrent to heinous crimes, or is it an outdated practice that perpetuates cycles of violence?
As Biden approaches a potential announcement, the nation remains divided on the issue of capital punishment. Supporters of abolition view this as an opportunity to take a moral stand, while critics warn of the implications for public trust in the justice system.
For now, the fate of the 40 men on federal death row—and the broader future of the federal death penalty—hangs in the balance. The president’s decision, expected as early as Christmas, will likely spark fierce debate and define his legacy on one of the nation’s most contentious issues.
