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Dick Durbin: “Forensic evidence never connected him [Tony Carruthers] to…”

Featuring: Dick Durbin, Democratic | U.S. Senate Illinois

Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty

Published May 20, 2026 | Video Starts at 00:18

Tomorrow, the state of Tennessee is planning to end the life of Tony Carruthers, a man with severe mental health conditions who was forced to represent himself in a murder trial 30 years ago. Forensic evidence never connected him [Tony Carruthers] to the crime. Key witness testimony has been discredited forever. Fingerprints and DNA found at the crime scene were never fully investigated, even though they could exonerate Mr. Carruthers. (00:18–00:22)

CLAIM

Asserts that forensic evidence did not connect Tony Carruthers to the crime.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Dick Durbin

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“One study found that 4% of the individuals on death row were likely innocent.”
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“Approximately 90% of people facing capital charges cannot afford an attorney.”
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“43% of individuals executed between 2000 and 2015 had been diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life.”
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“Black people make up 41% of all the prisoners on death row.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 02:24-02:30
“In December 2024, in response to requests for myself and 11 other senators, President Biden commuted the sentences of most individuals on…”
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“Last month, President Trump's Department of Justice announced that it was bringing back firing squads and seeking to return to the use of…”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 04:25-04:37
“The state of Alabama became the first government in the world to carry out executions by nitrogen suffocation.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 04:37-04:46
“Tomorrow, the state of Tennessee is planning to end the life of Tony Carruthers, a man with severe mental health conditions who was forced…”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 00:00-00:17
“Key witness testimony has been discredited forever.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 00:22-00:26
“Fingerprints and DNA found at the crime scene were never fully investigated, even though they could exonerate Mr. Carruthers.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 00:25-00:25
“Numerous studies have found that black defendants are more likely than their white counterparts to face the death penalty.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 02:31-02:38
“In 2021, his first year in office, President Biden instituted a moratorium on the federal death penalty.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 03:45-03:52
“Today, I'm reintroducing the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 04:05-04:10