California District Attorneys and law enforcement unions have publicly condemned Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement to commute the sentences of 548 death row inmates, with some accusing the governor of prioritizing politics over justice for victims.
Newsom's order, which changes the sentences to life in prison without parole, has drawn criticism from prosecutors who feel the decision disrespects victims' families and the judicial process. "I think it's all about politics, sadly. Politics is over people in this case, and that's a real sad state of affairs," San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow told Fox News Digital.
In a letter explaining his decision, Newsom stated that California's capital punishment system is incompatible with the state's values. "I take this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us," he wrote. Newsom previously issued an executive moratorium on capital punishment upon taking office in 2019, and California has not carried out an execution since 2006.
The backlash from law enforcement was immediate. Lt. Jared Wilson, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association, called Newsom's action "awful" and a betrayal to victims. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman noted that Californians have twice voted to uphold the death penalty, and that his office will continue to prosecute capital cases according to the law.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer characterized the commutations as "mercy for the wolves… while inflicting the ultimate act of cruelty on the sheep." Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco highlighted that 127 inmates on death row were sentenced for crimes committed in his county, emphasizing that these sentences followed due process, trials, and jury decisions that the governor has now overridden.
Among the inmates whose sentences were commuted are individuals convicted of heinous crimes, such as Michael Whisenhunt, sentenced for the torture and murder of a 1-year-old, and Rex Krebs, convicted in the slayings of two female college students. Dow noted that the victims' families were neither consulted nor notified before Newsom's public announcement.
Dow defended the legal framework for capital punishment, stating, "We have a rigorous defense procedure that weeds out cases. I have strong confidence in the integrity of our convictions."