Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden unexpectedly commuted the sentences of several death row inmates convicted of murder.
Now, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is pushing to reverse those decisions, directing state authorities to seek the death penalty for those individuals.
On Wednesday, Bondi addressed the issue in a letter to DOJ staff, stating that Biden’s decision to approve the commutations “undermines our justice system and subverts the rule of law.”
Bondi wrote, “The commutations have denied the victims’ families the justice the Department of Justice had promised and diligently worked to achieve.” She called for immediate action to restore justice for the families of the 37 individuals whose death sentences were commuted.
She described the move as an “important step” in rebuilding trust and ensuring accountability, suggesting that the DOJ should explore ways to offer a public platform for victims’ families to share the emotional impact the commutations had on them, according to Fox News.
Bondi also emphasized that U.S. attorneys’ offices would be instructed to pursue legal action against individuals whose death sentences had been reduced under state law, not federal law. She clarified that this would only happen “where appropriate and legally permissible” and after consulting with victims’ families and other involved parties.
As stated in Bondi’s letter, the Capital Case Section will aid U.S. Attorney’s Offices in carrying out this directive.
Additionally, she ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons to ensure that the confinement conditions for the 37 commuted inmates reflect the security risks posed by their serious crimes, criminal histories, and other relevant factors.
In December, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row prisoners, converting their sentences to life imprisonment without parole. This action was seen as a way to prevent the incoming Trump administration from carrying out executions that were no longer consistent with current policies, as explained by the White House.
At the time, the White House also issued a statement highlighting Biden’s criminal justice efforts, which it said had positively impacted historically marginalized communities and transformed individual lives. The statement added that Biden would continue to review potential pardons and commutations in the coming weeks.
By the end of his presidency, Biden left just three individuals on death row: Robert Bowers, who was convicted of bombing the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh; Dylann Roof, responsible for the Charleston church shooting; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for the Boston Marathon bombing.
Bondi recently made headlines when the DOJ sued New York Attorney General Letitia James, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the state itself, accusing them of violating federal law by offering sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.
During a press conference, Bondi declared, “This is a new DOJ. New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over U.S. citizens. That ends today.”
She also highlighted the Green Light laws, which allow undocumented immigrants in New York to obtain driver’s licenses, making it difficult for federal agencies to access driver’s license information. Bondi noted that law enforcement could not verify the identity or background of undocumented immigrants they stop, making it harder for officers to ensure public safety.
“We will hold you accountable if you break federal law,” Bondi warned. “This is strike one for New York, and strike two for Illinois. Any state violating federal law should be prepared.”
In addition, the Justice Department asked a federal judge last week to overturn sanctuary laws in Illinois and Chicago.