President Biden recently commuted the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row, changing their sentences to life without the possibility of parole. This move sparked strong criticism from Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va.
Manchin called the clemency granted to two individuals "horribly misguided and insulting." He felt compelled to speak out for the parents of Samantha Burns, who was murdered in 2002 at the age of 19.
"After speaking to Samantha Burns’ parents, I believe it is my duty to speak on their behalf and say President Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences for the two men convicted in her brutal murder is horribly misguided and insulting," Manchin said in a statement on X.
He also expressed his sympathy for the family, saying, "Particularly since Samantha’s family wrote letters to President Biden & the Department of Justice, pleading for them not to do this, but their concerns were unheard. I can’t imagine the grief that Kandi and John Burns are reliving and dealing with during the holiday season."
"As their U.S. Senator and a father, I want to express my deepest sympathy for their continued suffering. Please know that Samantha will forever be in our prayers," Manchin added.
The two men involved in Samantha's death, Chadrick Fulks and Brandon Basham, escaped from a Kentucky detention facility in 2002. They went on a 17-day crime spree across several states, during which they admitted to killing Samantha and carjacking her.
In a statement, President-elect Trump reacted harshly, posting on Truth Social: "GO TO HELL!" to the 37 prisoners who had their sentences commuted.
Biden, in his own statement, condemned the murderers but emphasized his stance on the death penalty. "I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss," he said.
Biden also reiterated his opposition to the death penalty: "These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," he explained.