Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden made the controversial decision to commute the sentences of several death row inmates convicted of murder. In response, Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General, is now advocating for the reversal of these commutations and urging state officials to pursue the death penalty for these individuals.
On Wednesday, Bondi addressed the commutations in a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) staff, asserting that Biden’s actions “undermine our justice system and subvert the rule of law.” She emphasized that the commutations denied victims’ families the justice that the DOJ had promised and worked diligently to secure.
Bondi described her initiative as an “important step” toward rebuilding trust and ensuring accountability. She suggested that the DOJ should explore opportunities to provide a public forum for victims’ families to share how the commutations have personally affected them, as reported by Fox News.
In her letter, Bondi outlined her plan to instruct U.S. attorneys’ offices to pursue cases against individuals whose death sentences had been commuted under state law, rather than federal law. This would only occur “where appropriate and legally permissible” and after consulting with victims’ families and other interested parties.
Bondi also directed the Capital Case Section to assist U.S. Attorney’s Offices in implementing this directive. Furthermore, she instructed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to ensure that the confinement conditions for the 37 commuted murderers align with the security risks posed by their serious offenses and criminal histories.
In late December, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This action was intended to prevent the incoming Trump administration from carrying out execution sentences that would not align with current policies and practices, according to a White House statement at the time.
The White House also noted that Biden’s criminal justice record had positively impacted communities, particularly historically marginalized ones, and that he would continue to review additional pardons and commutations in the weeks to come.
Only three mass murderers remained on death row after Biden’s actions: Robert Bowers, who was responsible for the 2018 bombing of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue; Dylann Roof, who killed nine people at a Charleston, South Carolina church; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who detonated bombs at the Boston Marathon.
Bondi recently gained attention for the DOJ’s lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the state of New York for allegedly violating federal law by providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. At a press conference, Bondi stated, “This is a new DOJ,” criticizing New York for prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens.
She also mentioned Mark Schroeder, the commissioner of the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, in relation to the Driver’s License Act, also known as the Green Light laws, which allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Bondi pointed out that these laws prevent federal agencies from accessing New York State driver’s license data.
“They have green light laws, which means that if they pull over an illegal alien in New York, law enforcement cannot verify their identity,” Bondi explained. “Every day, these brave men and women risk their lives when they pull over someone without knowing their background.”
Bondi concluded with a warning: “We will hold you accountable if you violate federal law. Strike one, we did it to Illinois. New York is the second strike. And you’re next if your state is breaking federal law. Prepare yourself.”
The Justice Department has also requested that a federal judge overturn sanctuary laws in Illinois and Chicago.
