Democracy Dies in Darkness

They were on federal death row. Now they may go to a supermax prison.

Prisoners say the Trump administration is seeking tougher conditions for them as punishment for having death sentences commuted by President Joe Biden.

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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi during a news conference at the Justice Department on Feb. 12. (Craig Hudson/Reuters)
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A group of federal prisoners filed a lawsuit this week accusing the Trump administration of seeking to move them to a supermax prison to face tougher conditions as punishment for having their death sentences commuted by President Joe Biden.

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life in prison without parole. After his inauguration, Trump ordered that the former death row prisoners be housed “in conditions consistent with the monstrosity of their crimes and the threats they pose.”

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Mark Berman is a national reporter for The Washington Post who covers law enforcement and criminal justice issues. Send him secure tips and messages on Signal at markberman.25 @markberman
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