Pam Bondi Aims to Reverse Biden's Commutations for Death Row Inmates
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is taking steps to reverse the last-minute commutations for death row murderers granted by former President Joe Biden. In a letter sent to Department of Justice (DOJ) employees on Wednesday, Bondi criticized Biden for allegedly undermining the justice system and subverting the rule of law.
Bondi stated, "The commutations also robbed the victims' families of the justice promised -- and fought hard to achieve -- by the Department of Justice." She directed the DOJ to commence actions aimed at achieving justice for the victims' families of the 37 commuted inmates.
One of the initial steps Bondi proposed includes providing a public forum for the victims' families to share how the commutations personally affected them, which she called an "important step" towards building trust and accountability.
Furthermore, Bondi will instruct U.S. attorney's offices to pursue death sentences against the commuted inmates using state law instead of federal law, contingent upon consultations with victims' families. "The Capital Case Section shall assist the United States Attorney's Offices in implementing this directive," her letter stated.
Additionally, she ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons to ensure that the confinement conditions for the 37 commuted murderers reflect the security risks associated with their crimes and histories.
Last month, Biden reclassified 37 inmates from federal death row to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a decision the White House claimed was designed to prevent capital executions under the upcoming Trump administration.
Bondi, a former prosecutor and Florida state attorney general, emphasized her commitment as AG to eliminate political influence and ensure equitable justice. "America will have one tier of justice for all," she asserted.
