President Joe Biden sparked outrage among Republicans over the weekend by commuting the sentences of 37 death row inmates to life in prison without parole. The decision, while consistent with Biden’s Catholic faith, marks a significant move in his administration’s approach to the death penalty.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a staunch opponent of the decision, expressed his anger on X (formerly Twitter) Monday, calling it “an abhorrent move by President Biden, but an entirely predictable one.”
“This is a slap in the face of the victims, their families, and loved ones,” Cruz wrote. “He is commuting the sentences of cold-blooded killers and rapists. He is spitting on the graves of the victims by letting these criminals off easy.”
Cruz’s remarks closely echoed those of former President Donald Trump, whose spokesperson also called Biden’s decision “abhorrent” and “a slap in the face to the victims.” Trump’s camp criticized the move as undermining the rule of law, with a promise to reverse such decisions if Trump regains the presidency.
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However, Trump’s criticism has drawn attention to his own controversial record on pardons. In the final days of his presidency, Trump issued 74 pardons, many of them to Republican allies, including Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump has also pledged to pardon those involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol if re-elected.
Biden’s decision contrasts sharply with Trump’s and follows a broader trend among Democrats toward criminal justice reform. Former President Barack Obama, for example, issued 1,715 commutations during his tenure, primarily for non-violent drug offenders, including many serving lengthy sentences for marijuana-related crimes.
The Biden administration has framed the commutations as a step toward aligning the U.S. justice system with modern ethical standards. While Biden has historically supported the death penalty, his Catholic faith and growing opposition to capital punishment among Democrats likely influenced the move.
The debate highlights the stark divide between the two parties on criminal justice. Republicans argue Biden’s actions undermine justice and disrespect victims, while Democrats see the death penalty as a moral and practical failure.
As the backlash from Biden’s decision continues, it underscores a broader cultural and political battle over the role of punishment and forgiveness in the American justice system.