Biden Commutes Sentences of 37 Death Row Inmates

President Joe Biden has commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a move praised by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and various human rights organizations. Pressley called the decision 'historic and groundbreaking' and emphasized the death penalty's disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, labeling it a fundamentally unjust punishment. Biden's action, which excludes three inmates involved in high-profile mass murders, comes as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to resume federal executions. Catholic leaders have also commended Biden's decision, aligning it with the Church's teachings against the death penalty and advocating for the respect of human dignity. This clemency action represents a continuation of Biden's policy to halt federal executions, which had been reinstated during the previous administration. The decision highlights the ongoing national debate over capital punishment and its application in the U.S.