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Dick Durbin: “In 2021, his first year in office, President Biden…”

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 03:45

In 2003, Governor Ryan cleared death row by commuting the sentences of 167 inmates to life in prison. In 2021, his first year in office, President Biden instituted a moratorium on the federal death penalty. Then, in December 2024, in response to requests for myself and 11 other senators, President Biden commuted the sentences of most individuals on federal death row to life imprisonment. (03:45–03:52)

CLAIM

Asserts that President Biden instituted a federal death penalty moratorium in 2021.

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

“Over 200 people who were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death have been exonerated since 1973.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 01:13-01:21
“One study found that 4% of the individuals on death row were likely innocent.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 01:21-01:28
“Approximately 90% of people facing capital charges cannot afford an attorney.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 01:45-01:52
“43% of individuals executed between 2000 and 2015 had been diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 01:55-02:05
“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…”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 03:52-04:05
“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
“Forensic evidence never connected him [Tony Carruthers] to the crime.”
Durbin Calls For An End To The Federal Death Penalty | Uploaded May 20, 2026 | 00:18-00:22
“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
“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