Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum reinstating the death penalty in Washington D.C., a move described by the U.S. administration as a strong preventive measure against serious crimes.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Justice Department will seek to apply the death penalty in cases nationwide, not only in the capital, according to CNNi.
At the Oval Office, Trump said: “If someone kills, death penalty. And I hope they don’t,” using a wordplay on capital, referring both to the capital city and capital punishment. The memorandum instructs Bondi and D.C. District Attorney Janine Pirro to fully implement the death penalty where evidence supports its use, White House Secretary Will Scharf confirmed.
Bondi added that the Justice Department is transferring inmates from Biden-era death row facilities to Supermax prisons, where they will remain under maximum security for life. This decision follows Trump’s previous statement that the death penalty is a “very strong preventive” measure and that states should make their own decisions.
Currently, 23 of the 50 U.S. states have abolished the death penalty, while California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania maintain moratoriums under their governors’ orders. Reinstating the death penalty in the capital is expected to impact judicial proceedings and pave the way for new cases with potential capital punishment.
This move fits within Trump’s broader policy of tough-on-crime measures, emphasizing prevention of serious offenses through strict penalties.
