California's Newsom to commute death sentences of all 548 death row inmates

Gavin Newsom announced plans to commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates in California. The proposed clemency would be the largest such action in the United States.California Governor Gavin NewsomCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state's death row, in what would be the largest such clemency action in the United States.Newsom made the announcement on Thursday in a three-page letter addressed to "all Californians", reiterating his opposition to capital punishment. California has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere.The move comes as Newsom approaches the end of his second and final four-year term as governor. The Democrat, a former San Francisco mayor and lieutenant governor, is widely expected to consider a presidential bid in 2028."After nearly 30 years in public office, I have come to understand the limits of what government can justly accomplish," Newsom wrote. "I take this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values." CALIFORNIA HAS NOT CARRIED OUT AN EXECUTION SINCE 2006Newsom had imposed a moratorium on executions in March 2019, around two months after taking office. The state last executed a prisoner in 2006, during the tenure of Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.Although the death penalty remains legal in 27 US states, more than 20 others have abolished capital punishment. Actual executions, however, are concentrated in a relatively small number of states. According to human rights organisation Amnesty International, around 15 countries continue to carry out executions.RECENT EXECUTION CONTROVERSIES RENEW DEATH PENALTY DEBATEThe announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of capital punishment in the United States following a botched execution attempt in Tennessee on September 30. Condemned prisoner Christa Pike survived two attempts to administer lethal drugs and was subsequently hospitalised before being returned to prison on October 10.The issue has also drawn attention following plans announced by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to livestream the scheduled firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others in a 2009 shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas.President Donald Trump subsequently ruled out broadcasting the execution live. Hasan remains scheduled to face a firing squad on December 3.Newsom's proposed action would mark a major intervention in the country's capital punishment debate, potentially removing all 548 inmates on California's death row from the prospect of execution.- EndsWith inputs from Reuters