Trump Proposes Expanding Federal Death Penalty

President-elect Donald Trump has proposed expanding the federal death penalty to include crimes such as child rape, drug trafficking, and the killing of law enforcement officers, labeling offenders as 'terrible, horrible people.' Trump aims to reinstate execution protocols and has expressed intentions to seek the death penalty for drug traffickers, echoing his aggressive approach during his first term, which saw 13 federal executions. Criminal justice reform advocates and anti-death penalty groups have raised concerns about the implications of these proposals, particularly given the legal hurdles involved in expanding capital punishment to non-murder offenses, such as child rape, which a 2008 Supreme Court ruling currently prohibits. However, Trump's aggressive stance may face challenges from both legal precedents and logistical issues in reinstating execution protocols. Despite potential obstacles, the conservative majority in the Supreme Court could provide support for his initiatives, though there remains bipartisan opposition among lawmakers. Advocates are preparing to challenge these changes vigorously, emphasizing constitutional protections against the expansion of the death penalty.