Inmates Seek to Block Biden's Clemency Decision

Two federal death row inmates, Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis, have filed emergency motions in federal court to block President Biden's clemency, which commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment without parole. They argue that the commutation undermines their appeals by removing the heightened scrutiny applied to death penalty cases, which they believe is vital to proving their innocence and exposing alleged misconduct by the Justice Department. Both inmates maintain their innocence and assert that retaining their death sentences is crucial for drawing attention to their cases. Despite their refusal to accept the clemency, a 1927 Supreme Court ruling allows a president to grant clemency without the convict's consent. Legal experts suggest that successfully reversing a presidential commutation is highly unlikely. Biden's decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal inmates has sparked debate, with critics arguing it diminishes justice for victims.