Barr’s swan song: ‘Let there be blood’

 

Attorney General Bill Barr has just 42 more days as Attorney General. Yet, he’s determined to execute five more of the 54 federal inmates on death row. After a 17 year absence, Barr ordered the U.S. to resume federal executions In July, just six months before his tenure would expire with a Trump loss…which it will. Between July 14 and November 19, eight humans were whacked by Barr’s resumption and he’s planned the remaining five for his last six weeks as U.S. Executioner in Chief. One is a likely mentally ill woman who suffered years of sexual abuse and incest as a child. Two of the men have been judged intellectually disabled.

 

Was the election a factor in Barr’s rush to kill? Executions play well with the Republican base which still supports the death penalty at 61% compared to Democrats 46%. During Barr’s first tenure at Justice in the 1980’s and '90’s he strongly advocated for incarcerating more prisoners and imposing longer sentences. He was a strong advocate of requiring federal prisoners serve 85% of their sentence regardless of good behavior being an incentive for early release. His second stint as Attorney General has facilitated his lust for the cruel and unusual punishment of federally sponsored murder.

 

Check that. Under Barr it's no longer unusual.