Biden backed off a pledge to abolish the federal death penalty. That's left an opening for Trump
Prosecutors recently announced that they'd seek capital murder charges in the Buffalo mass shooting case, despite a moratorium on the federal death penalty that's held for nearly three years
By WILL WEISSERT
Published - Feb 27, 2024, 10:20 AM ET
Last Updated - Feb 27, 2024, 10:20 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — As he prepared to take office three years ago, Joe Biden's incoming administration considered a host of possible options to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the federal death penalty.
Capital punishment hasn’t shaped a U.S. presidential race since 1988 when Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis was criticized for offering little emotion when asked during a debate if he'd favor the death penalty for the perpetrators if his wife were raped and murdered.
