Dozens of convicted murderers set to be executed by the federal government could see their sentences commuted by President Joe Biden, according to a report.
People familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that Biden is mulling over commuting most, if not all, of the 40 men facing execution. If commuted, the men would be resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The move would disrupt President-elect Donald Trump's ability to resume swift executions.
The report comes after Pope Francis earlier this month asked for prayers for federal inmates set to face capital punishment. Biden is a devout Catholic and spoke with Francis on Thursday, according to the report.
“Today, I feel compelled to ask all of you to pray for the inmates on death row in the United States,” the Pope said. “Let us pray that their sentences may be commuted or changed. Let us think of these brothers and sisters of ours and ask the Lord for the grace to save them from death.”
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Biden could come to a decision by Christmas, the Journal reported. A few high-profile inmates are on death row.
Dylann Roof was condemned to die following the 2015 Charleston church shooting, in which he shot and killed nine Black church-goers during a prayer service.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a co-perpetrator in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, is also on the federal death row list. In that bombing, three people were killed and more than 260 were wounded.
And Robert Bowers, who was convicted last year in the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, is also on the list.
