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Activists Call on President Biden to End the Federal Death Penalty Before Leaving Office

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A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.

USA: Accused LAX shooter to appear in federal court Wednesday

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According to the Los Angeles Times today, the man accused in the shooting at LAX last month is due in a federal court for the first time on Wednesday.

23-year-old Paul Ciancia, a New Jersey native who had relocated to L.A., is the suspected gunman and will not be expected to enter a plea at his mid-week arraignment. Instead, U.S. Magistrate Judge David T. Bristow will ensure Ciancia is aware of his rights, has seen the criminal complaint filed against him, and has an attorney, said to be a public defender. Bail eligibility reportedly may also be discussed.

Ciancia has been charged with killing a federal officer and committing an act of violence at an international airport. The death penalty is a possibility at this time, as well as life in prison without parole if he is convicted on all counts.

The shooting, which occurred just over one month ago in Terminal 3 of the airport, left three people injured and Transportation Security Administration officer Gerardo I. Hernandez dead. The Times notes that Ciancia had allegedly intended to target TSA workers in the attack. Officials are still determining the exact motive but feel he acted alone.

Ciancia was shot in a confrontation with police and treated at UCLA Medical Center before being released to the U.S. Marshals Service. He is currently being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Source: examiner.com, December 3, 2013
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Activists Call on President Biden to End the Federal Death Penalty Before Leaving Office

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A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.
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'Better off without it': Washington closes execution chamber at state penitentiary

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Florida | 5 things to know about how the Parkland shooter’s life was spared

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"Death chamber" permanently closed at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla

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As another U.S. state closes its execution chamber, Trump muses about expanding use of death penalty

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Singaporean deported from Thailand charged with drug trafficking, faces death penalty

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MHA survey finds growing support among Singapore residents for death penalty in most serious crimes

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