The Biden administration’s recent move to commute the sentences of nearly all federal death row inmates, including individuals convicted of heinous crimes like child rape and murder, has sparked fierce criticism from Team Trump. This controversial decision comes amid mounting pressure from more than 130 human rights and civil rights organizations.
According to Resist Times, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, effectively removing the death penalty for some of the most notorious criminals in the nation’s history.
This action follows Biden’s earlier clemency decisions, which included commuting the sentences of 1,500 people and pardoning 39 others in what the Associated Press called the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history.
Among those granted clemency is Biden’s own son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of felony gun crimes. Hunter’s pardon, coupled with Biden’s overarching clemency efforts, has drawn intense scrutiny from political opponents and victims’ rights advocates alike.
President Trump’s team wasted no time in condemning the Biden administration’s decision. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, released a statement calling the commutations a “slap in the face” to the victims and their families.
“These are among the worst killers in the world, and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones,” said Cheung. “President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he is elected with a massive mandate from the American people.”
Trump’s Department of Justice had authorized 13 federal executions during his first term, a stark contrast to Biden’s actions. The former president has promised to expedite federal executions if re-elected, signaling a significant policy shift from the Biden administration’s stance on capital punishment.
The decision to commute the sentences of death row inmates has been particularly controversial given the heinous nature of their crimes.
One of the inmates whose death sentence was commuted is Jorge Avila-Torrez, convicted of multiple brutal murders. In 2005, Avila-Torrez raped and murdered two young girls, Laura Hobbs, 8, and Krystal Tobias, 9, in Illinois. He also strangled Amanda Snell, a 20-year-old naval officer, to death inside her barracks in Virginia.
Another case involves two individuals who participated in the murder of an entire family in Florida, including young children. These cases, among others, underscore the severity of the crimes committed by those who will no longer face the ultimate penalty.
Biden’s decision comes against the backdrop of a broader push by his administration to reform the criminal justice system, including reducing reliance on capital punishment. Critics argue that these actions undermine justice for victims and their families, while supporters see them as steps toward a more humane approach to criminal sentencing.
Team Trump, however, has framed the commutations as a deliberate effort to derail Trump’s plans to reinstate federal executions. Trump has consistently emphasized his commitment to law and order, contrasting his policies with what he describes as Biden’s leniency toward violent criminals.
The commutations have ignited outrage among victims’ families and advocates, who view the decision as a betrayal of justice. The families of Laura Hobbs and Krystal Tobias, who were brutally murdered by Avila-Torrez, expressed disbelief and anger at the administration’s decision to spare his life.
