Trump condemns Newsom's commutation of 548 California death sentences

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 21:37 · Archive

President Trump has criticised Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to commute the death sentences of all 548 condemned inmates in California.

President Trump has condemned Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to commute the death sentences of all 548 condemned inmates in California. Trump called the move 'a disaster for Justice in America' and described the inmates as 'some of the worst cold-blooded murderers to have ever lived on the face of the Earth'. He expressed concern that the spared inmates were getting lucky given what he saw as the governor's incompetence, and said the families of victims were 'rightfully, devastated'.

Newsom announced the commutations on 5 November in one of his final acts as California's outgoing governor. In a letter to residents, he acknowledged that the prisoners he was sparing had caused 'indescribable suffering' but argued that 'the state cannot morally kill them'. He wrote that 'state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of our legal system and diminishes each of us'.

The decision has sparked substantial backlash, particularly from conservatives. Victims' advocates have promised legal challenges, with Anne Marie Schubert, a former district attorney now leading the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, saying her organisation will seek court scrutiny of the commutations. Trump expressed hope that the decision could be overturned.

How it is being reported

• Trump lashes out against 'incompetent' Gavin Newsom for commuting death sentences of 548 inmates in California: 'disaster for justice in America'In one of his final acts as outgoing governor, the Democrat announced on November 5 that he is sparing every murder on death row in the Golden State.Daily Mail · 14 Nov, 21:21
• President Trump rips Gavin Newsom for sparing California’s death row inmates: ‘disaster for Justice in America’President Donald Trump weighed in for the first time on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s controversial decision to commute the death sentences of all 548 condemned inmates in California.New York Post · 14 Nov, 17:50

In this story: Donald Trump · Gavin Newsom · California · Richard Allen Davis · Polly Klaas · Marc Klaas · Anne Marie Schubert · Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log