Washington D.C., Jan 26, 2021 / 15:55 pm
Dozens of members of Congress are urging the Attorney General-designate to stop use of the federal death penalty.
In a letter to Attorney General-designate Merrick Garland on Tuesday, 45 members of the House-led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Adriano Espillat (D-N.Y.)-asked Garland to work with Congress on legislation to end the federal death penalty, once he is confirmed.
In addition, they asked Garland to take specific steps to halt or end use of the death penalty nationwide, including by revoking the Trump administration's 2019 resumption of federal executions.
"The death penalty is a stain on the United States' commitment to advancing justice and human rights," the letter signed by 45 members stated. "We ask that upon confirmation you partner with Congress to enact legislation to end the federal death penalty and resentence those currently on federal death row," the members stated.