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Joe Biden in Senate in 1994 CNN This Morning 12-23-24 Today’s episode of CNN This Morning began its segment on Biden’s commutation of the death sentences of 37 federal death row convicts with a clip of then-Senator Biden, in 1994, proclaiming “I’m a death penalty supporter,” and bragging “I’m the guy who wrote this bill with my own little hands,” a bill that added 50 federal death penalty-eligible crimes.

I encourage people to watch Biden’s display.  Even death penalty supporters could cringe at his unseemly hubris.

Fast-forward 30 years, and now Biden defenders are explaining his decision yesterday to commute the death sentences of 37 convicts on federal death row in terms of his religious faith. Substitute host Rahel Solomon described Biden as a “devout Catholic” and suggested that religion could explain his decision. Democrat aide Hyma Moore claimed that the decision reflected the fact that Biden “cares deeply about his faith.”

Moore said that one thing he loves about Biden is, “when he is wrong, he’s willing to say it.” But Biden has admitted no mistake. To the contrary, in his commutation announcement, he said that he is “more convinced than ever” that the death penalty is wrong. More convinced “than ever?” In 1994, Biden wasn’t convinced at all. To the contrary, he boasted of being Senator Death Penalty Biden — “with my own little hands!”

Biden will visit Pope Francis next month. Just two months ago, Pope Francis said, “An abortion is a murder. Doctors who do that are — allow me to use that word — contract killers.”

What kind of moral compass leads “devout Catholic” Biden to commute the death sentences of people guilty of heinous murders, but do nothing to protect the lives of utterly innocent unborn children?

Question: Returning to Biden’s braggadocious ’94 performance, does anyone believe his claim to have written the death penalty bill with his “own little hands?” Bueller? Bueller?

Here’s the transcript.

CNN This Morning
12/23/24
6:15 am ET

JOE BIDEN: I’m a death penalty supporter. I’m the guy that wrote this bill. Presumptuous thing to say, but I wrote this bill. My own little hands. And I added into the bill more than 50 death penalties. I support the death penalty. This president supports the death penalty. 

RAHEL SOLOMON: That was then-Senator Joe Biden boasting about the 1994 crime bill, his 1994 crime bill, which added a list of federal crimes punishable by the death penalty. 

But new this morning, President Joe Biden now announcing that he is commuting 37 federal death row inmate sentences to life in prison without parole. But there are three names that are notably absent from this list of commutations, convicts like the Boston Marathon bomber, Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof and Tree of Life synagogue mass shooter Robert Bowers, all excluded from this list that was released this morning. They were left off due to their crimes being terrorism or hate-motivated mass murder. 

In a statement, the president said, quote, make no mistake, 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. But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand by and stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted. 

. . . 

SOLOMON: I mean, Biden, of course, a devout Catholic, so you have to wonder sort of how much his religion played into this as well. 

. . . 

Lance, I’m curious how you think Trump’s death row stance may appeal to people who perhaps voted for him on the basis of things like the economy, the number one issue for a lot of people, but maybe didn’t pay as much attention to this issue necessarily. What do you think? 

LANCE TROVER: I think Donald Trump is the most out there and open candidate we’ve ever had for president in the history of the country. It’s not like he hides where he is on these positions. Unlike Joe Biden. I mean, Merry Christmas to child killers out there. I mean, this is absurd. It’s reprehensible. Two days before Christmas and he is pardoning?

But this is classic Joe Bidenesque. In the final waning days of this sad presidency that he’s had. On one hand, he says he supports law and order in this country, and then pardons his son for 11 years worth of crimes, crimes that he pled guilty to. On one hand, he again says, I support law and order, and then pardons a bunch of child murderers out there, but then leaves three others to stay on the death row. It makes absolutely no sense. 

It makes me wonder who is actually making these decisions at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the waning days of this administration, because it sure does not seem like it’s Joe Biden. 

SOLOMON: Hyma, let me let you have the last word here. I see you shaking your head in response to what Lance is saying. 

HYMA MOORE: Yeah, look, I don’t want to take cheap shots at the president. I think Joe Biden has been a fantastic president on many accords [sic]. But look, we know two things about Joe Biden. He cares deeply about his faith. And to Annie’s point, he’s allowed his faith to help him make these decisions. 

And secondly, one thing I really love about Joe Biden is, when he is wrong, he’s willing to say it. He’s willing to evolve. He’s willing to grow. And so this is an evolution of thought. And so Joe Biden feels the same way he’s felt about his faith for many years. But this is an evolution of thought. And he feels very strongly about bringing some equity to this process.