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Gascón Urges Federal Ban on Death Penalty
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón yesterday endorsed proposed legislation that would end the death penalty at the federal level.
A bill was introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass. Their bill appears to be aimed at blocking three executions slated for this week; incoming President Joe Biden has indicated that the death penalty will not be utilized while he is in the White House.
Gascón said in his statement:
“President Trump’s attempt to execute three people during his last week in office is dysfunctional, immoral and unjust,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Last month when I took office, I announced my office would no longer seek the death penalty in a county that currently has 215 people on California’s death row.
“State or federal sanctioned killings do not deter crime and have historically been racially biased. I wholeheartedly support Representative Ayanna Pressley and Senator Richard Durbin’s proposed legislation to ban the death penalty at the federal level and resentence more than 50 people sitting on its death row.
“Together, we can end this inhumane and misguided form of punishment and continue to make essential reforms to our criminal justice system that will enhance safety and justice.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has instituted a moratorium on executions in the state while he is in office.
Copyright 2021, Metropolitan News Company