Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 people on federal death row, reducing them to life without parole. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi strongly opposed the move, claiming it undermined the justice system and denied victims’ families the justice they had fought for.
In a letter to the Department of Justice, Bondi directed officials to explore using state laws to reinstate the death penalty, where legally appropriate. She also ordered reviews of prison conditions and encouraged public forums for victims’ families.
Bondi emphasized holding people accountable while working within constitutional limits. Additionally, the DOJ announced it would stop defending certain removal restrictions for administrative law judges, declaring them unconstitutional and contrary to executive authority under Article II.
