🔶 California governor commutes death sentences for hundreds of condemned prisoners to life in prison

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, has changed the death sentences of 548 death-row prisoners in this state to life in prison.

In a letter addressed to all California residents, while announcing the commutation of the death sentences of these 548 prisoners to life in prison, he stated: «I do this because I deeply believe that killing by order of the state is not consistent with California’s values.»

California has the highest number of prisoners on death row in the United States, yet this state has not carried out executions for 20 years. Therefore, the governor’s action is considered symbolic.

In 2019, Newsom imposed a temporary suspension of executions in the state.

The decision by the California governor to convert death sentences to life in prison is also seen as a political message to Donald Trump, the U.S. president, who is among the supporters of the death penalty.

Newsom has long been mentioned as one of the potential candidates of the Democratic Party of the United States for the 2028 U.S. presidential election.

After two terms serving as governor of California, he is not allowed to run again for this position.

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