Two federal inmates reject Biden’s commutation of their death sentences

LAUREN TAYLOR: Two federal inmates who spent years on death row are responding to President Biden’s commutation of their sentences by saying they would rather be on death row.

Shannon Agofsky and Len Davis responded to the president’s move in December to commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on the federal death row by refusing to sign the paperwork. They both filed emergency motions requesting blocks of their commutations.

Both Agofsky and Davis are appealing their cases and believe their status on death row will help them prove their innocence and raise awareness for issues with how the government handled their cases.

Agofsky, who is in jail on murder and robbery charges, received his death sentence for the 2001 murder of a fellow inmate in prison.

NBC News reported he has opposed commutation because being on death row allowed him to receive extra legal help for his appeals.

Davis, meanwhile, is a former police officer in jail for the murder of a woman who filed a complaint against him, accusing him of assaulting a teenager. He says the court had no jurisdiction to try him for the case.

But getting their commutations reversed may be an uphill battle.

A 1927 Supreme Court case ruled that presidents do not need the consent of a convict to grant them pardons, commutations or clemency.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.

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