Trump Condemns Newsom's Plan to Commute California Death Sentences

President Donald Trump on Saturday, November 14, condemned California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to commute the death sentences of hundreds of inmates, calling the decision a "disaster for Justice in America" and expressing hope that the move would be overturned.

"Gavin Newscum’s halting the Death Penalty for all 563 California Death Row inmates, some of the worst cold-blooded murderers to have ever lived on the face of the Earth, is a disaster for Justice in America," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

President Trump cited 563 death row inmates, although Newsom's office reported that 548 people are currently sentenced to death in California. The president accused the governor of disregarding the suffering of murder victims' families and preventing the legal process from reaching its conclusion.

"Many of these names, people who have killed, over and over again, can’t believe their luck in having a Governor so incompetent and insensitive that he would not let the long and winding legal system prevail," Trump wrote.

"The family members of those who were so viciously killed are, rightfully, devastated. Hopefully this decision will be overturned!"

Newsom announced November 5 that he intended to commute the 548 death sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The proposed commutations would not overturn the inmates' convictions, release them from prison or make them eligible for parole.

The California Supreme Court must approve 382 of the commutations because those inmates have multiple felony convictions. The governor's plan would effectively replace the death sentences with permanent prison terms while leaving the underlying convictions intact.

Newsom has opposed capital punishment throughout his political career and imposed a moratorium on executions in California in 2019. The state has not executed since 2006.

In a letter explaining his decision, Newsom argued that California's death penalty system could not be administered fairly and that the state should not carry out executions. His position has drawn opposition from prosecutors and relatives of murder victims, some of whom argue that the governor is disregarding jury verdicts and the decisions of California voters.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman joined a legal challenge announced Thursday by the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which is contesting Newsom's broad use of his clemency powers to commute the sentences.

"We stand firmly with the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in challenging this arbitrary commutation that sidelines victims' families and disregards the will of California voters, juries and judges," Hochman said.

California voters have previously rejected ballot measures seeking to abolish the death penalty, voting against such proposals in 2012 and 2016. The legal challenge now places Newsom's proposed commutations under scrutiny as opponents seek to block the governor's action.