Eight former federal death row inmates, whose sentences were commuted by President Biden in late December, have been transferred to the U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado, according to the Justice Department, Fox News reports. Attorney General Pam Bondi oversaw the move as part of efforts to address the Biden administration’s prior clemency and commutation actions, which drew sharp criticism for being politically motivated and lacking proper vetting.
The transferred inmates were among 37 whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment without parole by President Biden, a decision that significantly reduced the number of inmates on federal death row. Most of these individuals had committed particularly violent crimes, including murdering fellow prisoners, participating in gang-related killings, and slaying civilians. The Justice Department highlighted that the inmates’ criminal histories and the egregious nature of their offenses warranted their relocation to a high-security facility. More inmates from the commuted group are expected to be moved to ADX in the coming weeks, with all 37 anticipated to arrive by early next year.
Attorney General Bondi emphasized the Biden administration’s actions had hurt the victims’ families, promising to take measures to “restore a measure of justice.” Bondi’s directives have included reviewing the “conditions of confinement” for the commuted inmates and ensuring those conditions match the severity of their crimes. The ADX is known for holding some of the country’s most dangerous federal inmates, including key figures from major terrorism and organized crime cases.
“President Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences of these monsters showed abhorrent disregard for our justice system and total disrespect for victims’ families already suffering through immense loss,” Bondi said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Bondi also met with victims’ families to discuss the impact of the commutations and outlined additional steps to be taken on their behalf. According to earlier DOJ memos, these policies aim to prioritize public safety and victims’ rights in wake of the clemency decisions issued by the previous administration.
President Biden’s decision to commute these sentences represents one of the largest such actions in modern U.S. history. According to Fox News, one source familiar with the matter said that more of the death row inmates are expected to be moved to ADX within weeks.
