California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted the death sentences of 548 inmates. This marks the largest mass commutation in U.S. history. Loved ones of murder victims are furious at the move. Families say the governor ignored the will of voters and the pain of those they lost.
Faye Jenkins, whose daughter was killed in 2008, spoke out at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. She told reporters that the state electorate supports capital punishment. “We voted for this,” Jenkins said. She asked who gave Newsom the right to decide for everyone. Jenkins noted that voters rejected ending the death penalty in 2016 by a narrow margin. She described the killers of her daughter as monsters, not animals. “They tortured my daughter and made my (son-in-law) watch while they sexually assaulted her,” Jenkins said. She added that the men stomped her son-in-law until his back showed shoe prints.
Families Plan Legal Fight
Steve Herr attended 203 court dates before his son’s killer was sentenced to die. He thought the nightmare was over when the man was sent to San Quentin. Now, Herr and others are fighting back. The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation is representing Gabriel Fernandez’s family. Gabriel died in 2013 after being beaten by his mother’s boyfriend. Prosecutors said the boy was forced to eat cat feces and sleep bound in a cabinet. Aguirre was sentenced to death in 2018 for the torture. Now, Gabriel’s family joins a campaign to challenge Newsom’s decision. They filed a petition that could lead to a lawsuit to overturn the action.
The dispute will take center stage Thursday afternoon in Sacramento. Victims’ families and law enforcement officials will gather to challenge the decision. Most inmates must have their clemency grants reviewed by the state Supreme Court as mandated by The California Constitution. This legal hurdle could slow down the governor’s plan. Per NBC News, the executive action angered crime victims who had already endured the pain of losing a relative.
Inmates Offer Mixed Views
Some inmates on death row have different feelings about the commutation. Ka Pasasouk told The Daily Caller he hopes Newsom runs for president. “If you do run for president, I mean, it just gives me more hope because if you could commute death sentences, you could give people a chance to go home,” said Pasasouk. He was condemned to death in 2012 for killing a rival and three witnesses. Pasasouk said he wants to see his grandchild and go fishing if the sentence changes.
Another inmate told The Daily Caller he accepted he would die in prison. He said he initially welcomed death over life in prison when he was arrested. This view contrasts with Pasasouk’s hope for a new life. Differing views on the decision were offered by the six felons who spoke with the Caller. Newsom’s political ambitions and how a commuted sentence could change their lives were discussed by them. If the change goes through, one man noted he would no longer have to be constantly shackled or isolated.
Gabriel’s family is joining a growing campaign to challenge the governor, according to The Washington Examiner. They argue the issue extends beyond a debate over capital punishment.
