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Biden Commuted Their Death Sentences. Now What?

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As three men challenge their commutations, others brace for imminent prison transfers and the finality of a life sentence with no chance of release. In the days after President Joe Biden commuted his death sentence, 40-year-old Rejon Taylor felt like he’d been reborn. After facing execution for virtually his entire adult life for a crime he committed at 18, he was fueled by a new sense of purpose. He was “a man on a mission,” he told me in an email on Christmas Day. “I will not squander this opportunity of mercy, of life.”

Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Richard Glossip Maintains Innocence As Execution Looms

Richard Glossip
Richard Glossip
A U.S. Supreme Court decision means Oklahoma will soon start executing death row inmates again. The next prisoner scheduled to die is Richard Glossip.

Glossip was 1 day away from being executed when the Supreme court issued a stay to consider the constitutionality of a drug the state uses for lethal injection.

Tuesday, Glossip said he is disappointed in the decision but hasn't given up hope.

Sitting on death row, the countdown back on to his execution. Richard Glossip remains adamant in his innocence.

"There's a chance I'm going to be executed for something I didn't do and I want people to know that," he said.

He spoke to News 9 from the home of his niece who has stood by his side for the past 18 years.

"We are going to fight all the way until the end and then some," said BJ Boyiddle.

Glossip was convicted of hiring Justin Sneed to kill his boss Barry Van Treese in 1997. There was no physical evidence linking Glossip to the crime.

The prosecution's case hinged on testimony from Sneed. Sneed accepted a plea deal in exchange. Glossip is still hoping Sneed will come forward and say he lied.

Sneed's daughter already wrote this letter to the state clemency board saying her father has been talking about recanting his original testimony.

"She wasn't about to let an innocent man die for something her dad did," Glossip said.

Glossip is also sending out a plea to Governor Mary Fallin to sit down with his attorneys and listen one last time to his case.

"If she decided what we're seeing doesn't change (anything) then leave it at that, but at least make the effort and sit down with these attorney," he said.

Glossip's attorneys say they are looking at all options. As Glossip is asking Oklahomans to stand up on his behalf.

"I just don't know how you go from doing everything right in your life to fighting for your life," he said.

A spokesperson for the Governor says the Governor Fallin cannot grant clemency she can only issue a 60 day stay.

Supporters of Richard Glossip have started an on-line petition. Right now it has about 40,000 signatures.

Source: news9.com, July 2, 2015

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