BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The decision to seek capital punishment for a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket marks a significant shift in the U.S. government’s stance on the death penalty. This comes after Attorney General Merrick Garland imposed a moratorium on federal executions shortly after taking office, putting a halt to a practice that saw 13 executions carried out within six months by his predecessor. The move to pursue the death penalty does not alter the federal execution moratorium, but it does mark a departure from the Justice Department’s previous approach to capital punishment cases under Garland’s leadership and President Biden’s vow to abolish the death penalty.
The decision underscores the complexities surrounding the death penalty in the U.S., as President Biden campaigned on a promise to abolish it but has taken few concrete steps to do so. While the Justice Department has significantly scaled back the use of capital punishment under Garland, it has also signaled a continued willingness to pursue it in certain cases, reflecting an inconsistent approach that has left many questioning the administration’s stance on the issue.
In the case of 20-year-old Payton Gendron, who pleaded guilty to driving across the state to target a largely Black neighborhood and carrying out a mass shooting with a semi-automatic weapon marked with racial slurs, the decision to seek the death penalty has sparked debate. Critics argue that pursuing the death penalty in this case is unnecessary given Gendron’s guilty plea, expression of remorse, and the fact that he has been sentenced to multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.
The federal government’s move to seek capital punishment in this case, coupled with the Justice Department’s revised manual instructing prosecutors to prioritize cases involving the most harm to the country, highlights the ongoing debate and complexities surrounding the death penalty in the U.S. Critics argue that seeking the death penalty in cases like Gendron’s ignores the racial discrimination historically associated with the death penalty and fails to address the root causes of extreme violence.
Despite the federal moratorium on executions, the decision to seek the death penalty in this case raises questions about the Biden administration’s stance on the issue and its commitment to fulfilling campaign promises. However, the lengthy, nonpartisan review process for making such decisions underscores the meticulous approach taken by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has been cautious and exacting in his decision-making process.