Two days before Christmas, President Joe Biden commuted sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row, sparking national debate. A week before this he pardoned his son, Hunter on gun, drug, and tax evasion convictions.

The Christmas clemency spared some of the nation’s most violent criminals from execution. This included at least five child killers and several mass murderers.

According to the White House, this decision aligns with Biden’s effort to “ensure a fair and effective justice system.”

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Worst Murderers Get Commutations

While most inmates on federal death row saw their sentences reduced to life in prison without parole, three notorious criminals were notably excluded from clemency. These include:

• Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber responsible for killing three people in 2013.
• Robert Bowers, the gunman who murdered 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018.
• Dylann Roof, who killed nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.

Among those granted clemency were individuals convicted of heinous crimes.

Thomas Sanders, for example, kidnapped and brutally murdered 12-year-old Lexis Roberts in 2010, following the murder of her mother. Jorge Avila Torrez, another recipient of Biden’s reprieve, had been convicted of multiple murders, including the killing of two young girls.

Trump Reacts to Commuted Sentences

Former President Donald Trump’s response to Biden’s clemency was swift and scathing.

On Truth Social, Trump condemned the commutations, writing, “To the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden, I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL!”

Trump’s remarks highlighted his dissatisfaction with Biden’s decision, particularly as it pertained to those convicted of severe crimes.

The White House clarified that the commutations were not pardons but reductions of sentences to life imprisonment without parole.

A Christmas Message

Trump’s holiday message extended beyond his critique of Biden’s commutations. 

In a series of posts, he targeted international leaders and domestic political adversaries. He criticized China for its alleged control over the Panama Canal and Canada’s tax policies under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He also revisited his long-standing support for U.S. control of Greenland, citing national security concerns.

Addressing domestic politics, Trump accused the “Radical Left Lunatics” of undermining America’s court system and elections.

Referring to Biden, he said, “They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing.”

In typical Trump fashion, his message concluded with optimism for his forthcoming presidency, stating, “In 26 days, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

The Broader Implications of Clemency

Biden’s decision underscores a broader debate about the death penalty in the United States.

Advocates for clemency argue that the justice system disproportionately targets marginalized communities, and that life imprisonment is a humane alternative. Critics, however, view the commutations as a failure to deliver justice for the victims and their families.

With public opinion sharply divided, Biden’s Christmas clemency will likely remain a contentious issue as Americans grapple with the balance between justice and compassion.