Outgoing West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin expressed strong disapproval on Thursday over President Joe Biden's decision to commute the death sentences of two men convicted in the brutal 2002 murder of Samantha Burns, a 19-year-old student at Marshall University. The two men, Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks, had been sentenced to death for their roles in Burns' killing. On Monday, as part of a larger commutation effort, Biden reclassified their sentences from execution to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with 35 other inmates on federal death row.
Speaker Mike Johnson's position is facing increasing scrutiny after a controversial handling of the government funding bill last week, which has left his future as Speaker uncertain. Several House Republicans, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration with Johnson’s leadership, saying his mishandling of the continuing resolution (CR) has severely shaken the confidence of his colleagues.
In a controversial decision just before Christmas, President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row, once again prioritizing convicted murderers over their victims. Among those granted mercy was Brandon Council, convicted of the brutal double murder of Donna Major and Katie Skeen during a robbery in 2017.
President-elect Donald Trump declared he would "vigorously pursue" the death penalty in January.
“As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department...
America First Legal (AFL) has released new photos showing President Joe Biden meeting with Hunter Biden's Chinese business associates, including an introduction to President Xi Jinping, during a 2013 trip to China. The images, obtained through AFL’s lawsuit against the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), shed light on the connections between the Bidens and Chinese officials, despite previous efforts to withhold the photos until after the 2024 election.
A recent survey by Economist/YouGov shows that a plurality of Americans view President Joe Biden's use of his presidential pardon powers as “inappropriate.” According to the survey, 46 percent of respondents believe Biden's pardons and commutations have been inappropriate, compared to 28 percent who find them appropriate. Around 26 percent of those surveyed remain undecided.
Ford Motor Co. announced Monday it is donating $1 million and a fleet of vehicles to support President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming January inauguration.
