CNN —President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will direct the Department of Justice to “vigorously pursue the death penalty” after President Joe Biden on Monday commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates to life in prison. “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. Biden’s clemency decisions cannot be reversed when Trump takes office, but the president-elect’s Justice Department could resume seeking the death penalty in future cases. In his speech launching his 2024 presidential campaign, he pledged to seek the death penalty for drug dealers. Biden has no power to stop those death sentences.

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Persons: Donald Trump, “, Joe Biden, ” Trump, Robert Bowers, Dzhokhar, Trump, commutations, Bryan Hurst, Daryl Lawrence, Lawrence “, ” Marissa Gibson, Trump’s, William Barr, Biden Organizations: CNN, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Law, Truth, Trump, Synagogue, White, Boston Marathon, elect’s, WBNS Locations: Charleston , South Carolina, Ohio, United States