Senator Joe Manchin has strongly criticized President Joe Biden's recent decision to commute death sentences, highlighting a divisive issue.

President Biden's commutations, which included two men convicted of murdering Samantha Burns, have sparked political controversy, The Daily Caller reported.

In 2002, someone abducted Samantha Burns, a 19-year-old student from Marshall University, after she was last seen at the Huntington Mall. Authorities have never found her remains, leaving her case unresolved.

Biden's Decision Reflects Anti-Death Penalty Stance

President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on a recent Monday, as part of a broader shift away from the federal use of the death penalty. Among those are Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks, convicted of murdering Samantha Burns, who will now face life imprisonment without parole instead of the death penalty.

This decision notably excludes high-profile inmates such as Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers, who remain on federal death row for mass killings.

Manchin's Condemnation Following Family Consultation

After speaking with the parents of Samantha Burns, Senator Joe Manchin publicly condemned the President's commutation of the sentences for Basham and Fulks, describing the decision as "horribly misguided and insulting."

He relayed the parents' deep emotional pain, especially during the holiday season, stressing the importance of his duty to represent their voice. "As their U.S. Senator and a father, I want to express my deepest sympathy for their continued suffering. Please know that Samantha will forever be in our prayers," Manchin articulated.

Presidential Philosophy on Capital Punishment

President Biden defended his decision by citing his long-held beliefs against the death penalty, influenced by his extensive experience in government roles including as a public defender and Vice President.

"Guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level," stated Biden.

The Broader Implications of Biden's Policy Shift

The commutations have sparked a broad spectrum of reactions across the country, from advocacy groups supporting the move as a step toward a more humane justice system, to opponents like Manchin who see it as undermining the severity required for heinous crimes.

This development underscores the ongoing national debate over the death penalty and poses significant implications for the future of federal criminal justice policy.