President Trump Wants To Use The Death Penalty In DC Murder Cases

President Trump Meets With His Cabinet At The White House

Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News / Getty Images

President Donald Trump announced plans to pursue the death penalty for murder cases in Washington, DC. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (August 26), Trump described the death penalty as a "very strong preventative" measure against crime. This decision comes amid a federal crackdown on crime in the capital, involving the deployment of National Guard troops and federal officers.

While most murder cases in Washington, DC, are prosecuted under local law, the US attorney's office can pursue federal charges, allowing for the possibility of seeking capital punishment. However, this approach may face challenges due to the city's historical opposition to the death penalty. Washington, DC, nullified its death penalty in 1972, and a 2002 referendum saw residents overwhelmingly vote against it.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that her office would follow the president's directive and seek the death penalty in appropriate cases. She emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with the attorney general and the deliberative process of presenting evidence to juries.

Despite the president's push, obtaining a death sentence in DC may prove difficult. According to CNN, prosecutors have historically struggled to convince juries to impose capital punishment in the city. The last death penalty trial in DC's federal court occurred in 2003, and jurors were unable to agree on death sentences for the defendants.


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