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.
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...
Richard Allen, the man convicted of the 2017 murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German in Delphi, Indiana, has been sentenced to the maximum 130 years in prison.
Former Judge Andrew Napolitano told Newsmax on Thursday that Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, could face the death penalty if federal prosecutors pursue charges of murder as an act of terrorism.
On Thursday, Oklahoma executed Kevin Ray Underwood, the man convicted of murdering 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin in 2006, despite attempts by his defense team to blame the horrific crime on autism and mental health issues. Underwood, who turned 45 on the day of his execution, was pronounced dead after being administered lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
The 26-year-old man accused in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has waived extradition from Pennsylvania and is set to return to New York as early as Thursday.
